McMillan Pazdan Smith expands with Huntsville acquisition

An Upstate architecture firm has expanded its regional reach with the acquisition of an Alabama firm.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture has revealed that Fuqua & Partners Architects, a community-based architecture, interiors and planning firm operating in Huntsville, Ala., since 1983, has joined McMillan Pazdan Smith, according to a news release.

The acquisition represents a strategic growth investment in Alabama and southern Tennessee with a 10th studio office for Southeast-focused McMillan Pazdan Smith, the release stated.

Huntsville “Rocket City” is a center for national R&D, especially in emerging technologies and space exploration, the release stated.

“With its welcoming and people-centered culture and growing diversity of commercial, civic, education and health care environments Huntsville is an exciting community for McMillan Pazdan Smith to serve and support,” said Chad Cousins, CEO of McMillan Pazdan Smith. “Fuqua & Partners is aligned with the same strong values, community focus and design excellence that enables MPS to serve clients insightfully and successfully. In partnership together, we look forward to supporting the vitality of communities, commerce and campuses throughout the rapidly growing North Alabama area.”

FPA’s design portfolio includes significant projects in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and Louisiana, according to the release. The firm designed the award-winning Huntsville Transit Transfer Station, a building that combines functional efficiency with environmental consciousness. In 2023, they completed the Discovery Life Sciences Global Headquarters on the Huntsville campus of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.

“Our firm is proud of how the buildings we’ve designed have had a positive and long-term impact on the people and communities we serve,” said FPA founding principal Joe Fuqua, in the release.  “Joining with MPS will offer our clients enhanced project expertise and support, setting current and future clients up for long-term success. It will also provide new and exciting opportunities for the talented designers and architects that have made FPA one of the leading firms in North Alabama.”

FPA leadership and 30 team members will be integrated into MPS’ practice area teams, while continuing to serve their local clients from the studio’s location in Huntsville.

AEC Advisors, through its registered broker-dealer affiliate AEC Transaction Services LLC, was the exclusive financial adviser to Fuqua & Partners Architects.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

McMillan Pazdan Smith has offices in Charleston, Columbia, West Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg in South Carolina.