Jonathan F. Bell

Jonathan F. Bell serves as Senior Lecturer (holding the title Senior Critic) in the Department of Interior Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design, while maintaining an active architecture practice through his Providence-based firm Jonathan F. Bell Architect specializing in adaptive reuse, residential design, and complex small-scale projects with over 16 years of professional experience.

His educational credentials include a BA from Wesleyan University and a Master of Architecture (MARC) from Princeton University.

Bell's academic research critically examines intersections between film and architecture, evidenced by publications including Shadows in the Hinterland: Rural Noir on cinematic noir aesthetics and FLICKER: Speculations on Space and Cinema from studio research at Roger Williams University. His architectural work demonstrates parallel investigation into spatial narratives through projects spanning Providence's East Side Railroad Tunnel to Le Corbusier's Église Saint-Pierre in Firminy.

Major recognitions include:

• Richard Morris Hunt Prize from the Architects Foundation (2021) for research on French historic preservation
• James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation Fellowship (2018) awarded to DUAL LLC for SLICE: The Inhabited Facade

As a LEED-accredited professional and American Institute of Architects member, Bell serves on the Providence Athenaeum Library board and previously held leadership in the Rhode Island AIA chapter. His practice philosophy emphasizes clear, creative solutions for projects ranging from single-family renovations to arts nonprofit facilities, with work exhibited internationally from Lyon to Reykjavík.