History

Blitch Knevel Architects was founded in 1958 by J. Buchanan Blitch, Sr. in a small office on Metairie Road in suburban New Orleans, Louisiana.  The mission of the firm was to provide client experiences focused on listening to their needs and goals of a project while exceeding their expectations.  Using that same focus, the firm has grown successfully and consistently over the last 65 years with long standing repeat clients, all while winning numerous awards and recognition from our peers in the architectural and construction professions.

Blitch Knevel Architects moved to its St. Charles Avenue location in the early 1980’s and renovated an historic hotel structure circa 1910, giving new life to the building and neighborhood and receiving numerous design awards for the project.  The firm later opened a second location in historic Downtown Covington on the Northshore, surrounded by local businesses and restaurants near the Bogue Falaya River, which now serves as the firm’s primary location.

Ron Blitch, FAIA, FACHA, and Ken Knevel, AIA, led the firm from the late 1990’s through the Katrina reconstruction era and led the redevelopment of the region with hospitals, universities and schools, and senior living facilities.  As of 2023, the firm is headed by Vanessa Schneider, AIA, NCARB, CDT and Allison Looper-Chalmers IIDA, NCIDQ with Ron Blitch continuing to focus on design and client partnerships.

Blitch Knevel continues to focus on the design of healthcare environments, senior living communities, and educational facilities regionally and nationally.

Our firm strongly believes in giving back to our local community and our profession at large. We encourage and support our team members with their various volunteer commitments, as well as their active participation in regional and national architectural organizations.

Our primary goal is always to serve our clients, friends, and community and help guide our client partners to a successful project – we listen, we design, and we delight.