The Team

Principal Architect

Education
Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Business
Master of Architecture
Tulane University, 2007

Stephen J. Ortego, AIA

Stephen oversees projects from their schematic design phase to construction administration and closeout. His specialties include historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects, new contemporary designs for office buildings and mixed-use buildings, and master planning for neighborhoods and townhouse typologies.

Stephen is a graduate of the Tulane School of Architecture. While at Tulane, Stephen spent time in Central America where he studied tropical architecture in Guatemala and Belize through Tulane’s study abroad program and built his thesis five times on the coast of Honduras.

From 2012 to 2016, Stephen served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. While a legislator, he served on the Commerce, Natural Resources, and Municipal committees. He also focused on French Immersion education, environmentally friendly initiatives, and healthcare. Notable to the practice of architecture, he co-authored and led the bill that adopted the new Louisiana plumbing code for buildings (IPC).

Stephen is an active board member of the US Green Building Council, Louisiana Chapter and is a LEED accredited professional. He has overseen the design and construction of several LEED-certified houses and previously worked in construction administration in 2007 for Make it Right in the Lower Ninth ward of New Orleans following hurricane Katrina.

More recently Stephen has led the charge to create a French Immersion Charter school in St. Landry Parish and has overseen the team to develop the construction documents, code research, and schematic design for the rehabilitation of a historic school building in Sunset, Louisiana, adapting the building to new codes and modern teaching methodologies.

Architect

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
Master of Architecture
Tulane University, 2007

Architectural Designer

Education
Bachelor of Architecture
Master of Architecture
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2016

Michael W. Ball, AIA

Michael Ball was born and raised in East Texas and graduated from the Tulane School of Architecture. Michael joined SO Studio in June 2021 and brings to the team 14+ years of professional architectural practice in Greater New Orleans.

Michael’s project experience ranges from The National World War II Museum to mixed-use, educational, office, landscape, and infrastructural projects for clients including AT&T, Chevron, and Orleans Parish School Board. His talent stack encompasses conceptual design and master planning to envelope detailing and construction administration.

As a complement to his architectural practice, Michael moonlights as a graphic designer for numerous South Louisiana organizations such as Birdfoot Festival (New Orleans’ international classical chamber music festival) and DesCours (an annual festival of contemporary art and architecture).

Michael has recently moved to Lafayette, attracted by its unique combination of the close-knit and the cosmopolitan. He is excited by the intersection of deep history, cultural vitality, economic vigor, and growth potential to be enjoyed here, and looks forward to discovering opportunities to embrace, serve, and enhance his new hometown.

Nouf AlBalushi

Nouf AlBalushi, who hails from the Sultanate of Oman, moved to Lafayette to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where she completed her bachelors and masters in Architecture.

During her studies, Nouf received the Alumni Award for a project that revolved around forming a connection between two countries through architecture that emphasized significant cultural similarities. Nouf also took part in University of Louisiana’s study abroad program in Paris where her studies involved architectural historicism.

In 2016, Nouf graduated from the Masters of Architecture program at UL with honors.

Nouf’s professional experience includes developing buildings from the early conceptual design phase all the way through construction documents and construction administration. She has extensive experience in multi-family new construction, mixed-use new construction, and historic preservation, rehabilitation, and renovation.

Nouf is also involved in preliminary architectural studies for major new and existing structures as well as site developments that’s targeted in aiding the continuous improvement of the City of Lafayette.

Her experience in developing construction drawings, layouts, and 3D renderings gives clients an encompassing visualization of design concepts of the projects she’s working on.

Nouf served as a member of the faculty at UL Lafayette as an adjunct professor, teaching first and second year architecture studio classes.

Director of Design, Interiors

Education
Bachelor in Interior Design
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2016

André J. Carr

André J. Carr joined SO Studio in January 2017. He holds a Bachelors of Interior Design from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. André acted as a designer for a home builder supplier for four years before joining the firm.

While at UL, André was awarded the Design Excellence award in 2014 and also participated in the UL School of Architecture and Design’s study abroad program in Paris, concentrating on history and interior design concepts. Before joining the Interior Design program at UL, he studied two years of Landscape Architecture at LSU at Eunice.

André has a well-trained eye for space planning, life-safety codes, and construction drawings. His professional experiences include millwork design, knowledge in furniture specifications and layouts as well as coordination of electrical and plumbing with engineering consultants and leading the design for multiple commercial projects. His work on a mid-century home in Lafayette, LA got him statewide recognition in Louisiana Life Magazine. While working on this project, André guided the client through the historic preservation process while coordinating all furniture and finishes for the home’s design concept. André is currently an emerging professional working towards his Louisiana Interior Design license through NCIDQ.

In his spare time, André likes gardening and collecting antiques.