Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
Why one Homewood architecture firm has an award-winning new look
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Tucked away on a quiet street in Homewood, one simple rectangular building has undergone an award-winning transformation.
Curious to find out more, we stopped by Birchfield Penuel Architects (BPA) to learn what was going on. This is their story.
Who is BPA?
37 years ago, in 1987, architects Clay Birchfield and Chuck Penuel launched Birchfield Penuel Architects (BPA).
Back then, they did it all—designing, managing, and driving the firm’s growth.
They both had degrees from Auburn and experience designing complex clinical projects.
Together, they built a business on a bold idea: specializing in healthcare architecture.
Now, the founders have retired, and a new generation is building on their legacy from a newly renovated, award-winning office in downtown Homewood.
Today, BPA has expanded its expertise beyond healthcare, specializing in education, commercial, and civic projects while staying true to the high standards that have always defined the firm.
Learn more about Birchfield Penuel Architects + their beautiful work: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Renovating their Homewood office
As the founders prepared to hand the reins to a new leadership team at BPA, they wanted to leave them with a workplace that would showcase what the firm could do. They also wanted to create a place where architects and designers would be excited to come to work.
Within the firm, there had been talk about renovating the building for at least a decade.
That said, no one wanted to move because the Homewood location is close to key clients like UAB or St. Vincent’s and to where the people who work there live.
Plus, it’s easy to walk to lots of places to eat or grab a coffee.
(L-R) Before + after (BPA, Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
Five key factors drove the leaders’ approach to innovation within the space, both for the people who work there and for clients:
- Creating work life balance
- Providing accommodations, like a room for nursing mothers
- Offering flexible hours
- Fostering a stimulating environment with lots of daylight
- Facilitating collaboration + exchange of ideas
In July 2024, BPA received both the Honor Award AND the People’s Choice Award at the AIA Birmingham Awards.
“Creating something of value”
Over time, the founders added staff, then worked to create a culture where people wanted to be.
“Our goal as a firm was always to have something of value that somebody else wanted to carry forward.
We didn’t want to get to the date of retirement, turn the lights out, lock the door and walk away.
Now the firm is driving forward with a lot of new clients, projects and leadership. It’s not going to end with us.”
Chuck Penuel, Principal Emeritus, Birchfield Penuel Architects
These are just a few of the many projects BPA has completed through the years:
- Christ Health Center’s Live Oak Clinic in Woodlawn
- University of Alabama Historic Bryce Stabilization
- Auburn University’s Early Learning Center
- The St. Vincent’s 119 Sisters Garden
- Birchfield Penuel Architects
Learn more about BPA’s new leadership
Together, Alicia Pughsley and Alan Crotwell have more than four decades of experience at BPA. Now, they’re leading the firm into a bright future.
Alicia has been with the firm for 16 years. The mom of four first came to work at BPA after a stint at the Auburn Urban Studio. She fell in love with the people, the projects and the clients. She also loves the culture of integrity, relationships and care at the company.
“We value one another and each other’s careers. We make sure that everyone is growing, including women and moms.
We strive to have a good work life balance. I have four kids. I’m able to both be a principal and an architect. And I can also be a mom and be present with my kids.”
Alicia Pughsley, Principal Architect, Birchfield Penuel Architects
Alan Crotwell started at BPA in 1999, four weeks after graduating from Mississippi State. He was immediately drawn to the firm’s culture, and said “It felt like a place where you wanted to work.”
Much of his professional experience centers on the design of commercial, higher ed and historic preservation architecture, along with a stronger emphasis on healthcare since he earned his license in 2007.
Alan’s a big fan of the problem-solving aspect of the field.
In Alicia’s experience, the firm’s emphasis on relationships, integrity and detail-orientation keeps their clients coming back for more.
The new leaders are eager to deepen relationships with current and new clients while taking on new clients from their new space.
Contact Birchfield Penuel Architects today for your next project: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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