In what feels like a blur, 2022 is upon us. The world and the industry have been on a wild ride but our team here at BPA is hopeful that the new year will bring with it new opportunities, new events, and a new sense of normalcy. Birchfield Penuel is excited about the new prospects on the horizon for 2022 and beyond. We have several projects currently on the boards and some exciting ones ready to begin this coming year. We expect it to be a busy year for the firm and we are prepared for the challenges that each new design project will bring.
It has become apparent that Covid 19 will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future and if it hasn’t already happened, we will all be forced to rethink our new normal. Changes have already emerged in managing the office environment, project workflows, and adopting technologies for parts of our jobs that were previously handled in person. As a firm we have always embraced change with a positive attitude. We believe new ideas should be encouraged as they are essential for growth, potentially making our lives more fulfilling, and keeping BPA at the forefront of innovation within the design field.
2021 was a good year for BPA with several notable projects. We had the privilege of continuing many of our existing relationships including Blue Cross Blue Shield, St. Vincent’s Hospitals, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. We are proud to share that two of our projects, Christ Health Center’s Live Oak Clinic and the historic renovation of the Lay Dam Superintendent Houses, were awarded AIA Alabama Design Awards for 2021. Our design for Christ Health presented a unique challenge of transforming a pre-fabricated metal building into a contemporary and thoughtful design that brought an element of pride and excellence into the community. The renovation of the Lay Dam Houses gave a new vibrancy to the last two remaining houses at Lay Dam. The integrity of the houses was preserved, ushering in an opportunity for new memories to be added to the old ones.
AIA Alabama Award, Christ Health Center’s Live Oak Clinic
AIA Alabama Award, Lay Dam Superintendent’s House
Relationships continue to be our priority, and just as we are invested in each of our clients, so are we invested in our local community. This past year BPA was fortunate enough to give back in a number of ways. Our team enjoyed working with many philanthropies such as United Ability, Red Cross, our local community food bank, the American Cancer Society, and many more. We cherish these relationships and look forward to continuing them in 2022.
There were a few in-house changes here at BPA in 2021 and more to come in 2022. We welcomed two new employees to the BPA family as well as promoted some of the already familiar faces. These new positions have already proven beneficial and we’re hopeful for their new roles in the new year. In 2022 we will kick-off some much-anticipated office renovations! Every one of our team members is looking forward to our new office space and the reflection it will be to our existing quality of work. Hopefully we will be able to share our final product with colleagues, clients, friends, and family soon.
As a firm, we vow a continued diligence in our service of existing clients and the same enthusiasm with all our new relationships. Our attention to detail throughout all phases of the project sets us apart, creating a reputation that we deeply value. We will continue to exhibit this reputation for all our clients regardless of the budget, complexity, or prominence of the project. We pledge to work even harder to make it apparent as to why BPA has been included as part of your team.
2021 BY THE NUMBERS
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of BPA in 2021. We wish you all a New Year full of promise and health.
The BPA Family
