2017 IDIES Awards

The 2017 IIDA Alabama Chapter IDIE Awards lived up to its Rock and Roll theme this year, from the venue to the trophies.  The twelfth biennial event held this year at Iron City hosted over 325 attendees, including Educators, Students, Interior Designers, Architects, and Vendors, and as well as clients who’s projects were being honored.  Birchfield Penuel was proud to be represented in two categories:  Best Of Corporate – Large for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Best of Healthcare – Large for New Western Health Center for Jefferson County and St. Vincent’s Chilton Hospital.

(L-R: Russ Realmuto, Kelsie Perry, Maria Glaser, Amy Estock, Laura Yeatman, Marlee Caldwell, Tom Kidwell)

Each firm represented was also invited to create an album cover to be used in the program.  Although no official award was given for Best Album Cover, BPA's was chosen as the overall favorite!  

(L-R: Laura Yeatman, Melissa Porter, Amy Estock, Wallace Williams, Marlee Caldwell, Maria Glaser, Kelsie Perry)

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to the 2017 IDIE Awards Committee!

We'd like to give a special shout out to one of our favorite sculptors and artists, Richard Miree, for his wonderful work designing and sculpting all of the design awards for the event! Visit his website to check out his other work.  http://richardmiree.com/

Announcing the 2017-2018 Bham AIA EP Director: Charlie Abram

Our own graduate architect, Charlie Abram, was appointed to the 2017-2018 Birmingham Chapter AIA Executive Committee as the EP Director. What is an EP you might ask?

EP /ē-ˈpē / n. 1. a young professional on the path to licensure. 2. an unlicensed architectural professional. 

As the EP (Emerging Professionals) Director Charlie will be the ambassador and liaison between the young professionals of the AIA and the broader organization. Part of his duties and responsibilities will be to help facilitate the growth and development of the EPs in their pursuit of licensure and also encourage their participation in both the AIA and the profession of architecture as a whole. Charlie will be helping coordinate educational site visits to local architectural projects, assisting with the sponsorship campaign for the Bham AIA chapter and will be responsible for reporting any updates from NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) on the ARE (Architectural Registration Examination) and the AXP (Architectural Experience Program) guidelines to EXCOM and the AIA staff. Additionally, Charlie will be guiding EPs through the AXP, and also will be coming alongside the EPs as a resource while they navigate the ARE. This role is one he's been humbly providing within our own office for all of our resident Graduate Architects. 

Fun Charlie Facts:

• Charlie was a champion youth bowler! Don't let his calm and collected demeanor deceive you - he's a competitor on the lanes!

• Charlie is an ACE mentor. ACE is a mentorship program and opportunity for local high school students to be introduced to the Architecture, Engineering and Construction professions.

• Charlie was born in South Korea, which explains his affinity for Korean BBQ and his mamma's cooking.

• In his free time Charlie is an avid eater and enjoys the great local food scene Birmingham has to offer. Charlie also enjoys hiking and the outdoors which evens out his foodie tendencies.

• His biggest claim to fame might be that Charlie is the self-touted “biggest fan of Beyoncé this side of the Mississippi”

We love Charlie and it’s no wonder to us why Charlie was chosen to be the voice and advocate of our young professionals! We’re proud to have him as an integral part of the BPA family. 

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