BBA Architects operates as an architecture firm serving West Loop and surrounding areas, carrying a 5.0★ average. Comfortable working on Chicago's vintage housing stock, from bungalows to pre-war two-flats. One reviewer writes: "He did a great job taking into account the way we wanted our house to fit our lives and delivered." Clients notice the small details — trim work, clean lines, careful finishing. Homeowners frequently mention Gary by name for standout service. Clients note they don't just meet the scope — they improve on it. Homeowners feel they got good value: competitive pricing, quality work.
Project Pricing Insight
Price range:Mid-Range$$
Landscaping projects typically cost $2K – $30K in Chicagoland
“Working with Erica Blawat at BBA Architects was an absolute pleasure from start to finish, and I...”
Working with Erica Blawat at BBA Architects was an absolute pleasure from start to finish, and I cannot emphasize enough the level of expertise, dedication, thoughtfulness and professionalism she brought to every aspect of the project.
From the initial conceptualization phase to the final execution, Erica demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to excellence. Her ability to translate our vision into a tangible design surpassed our expectations. She took the time to listen attentively to our ideas, preferences, and requirements, ensuring every detail was meticulously incorporated into the plans. Her commitment to getting every aspect of the design working in a way that addressed how our young family will grow in this home made her and the BBA team trusted partners that we could rely on throughout the build process.
Moreover, Erica was incredibly responsive and communicative throughout the entire project. Any questions or concerns we had were promptly addressed, and she kept us informed every step of the way. Her proactive approach to communication ensured the project remained on track and any potential issues were swiftly resolved.
And, most important, she demonstrated throughout the process how critical the choice in architect is - this role extends far beyond plans and drawings on a page. The right architect works in various dimensions that we did not appreciate until we saw all the effort Erica put in. One of the most impressive aspects of working with her and the BBA team was their ability to balance creativity with practicality. Erica not only designed a visually stunning home, but also ensured it was functional, sustainable, and tailored to our lifestyle. Her innovative solutions and thoughtful design choices truly transformed our living space into a place we are proud to call home.
Erica also demonstrated exceptional project management skills. She worked seamlessly with contractors, engineers, and our designer to coordinate all aspects of the construction process. Her leadership and organizational abilities were instrumental in keeping the project on schedule. As busy professionals ourselves that are simply not familiar or equipped to handle the different roles, responsibilities and tasks, we could not have chosen better partners than Erica and BBA.
Overall, I cannot speak highly enough of Erica and the entire BBA team and the incredible work they did on our home. Erica's passion for architecture, coupled with her unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, sets her apart as a true professional in her field. Without hesitation, I would recommend Erica to anyone in need of architectural services. Thank you, Erica, for making our dream home a reality!
Sarah Ansari Haque
Apr 2024
“Great designers. Great client service. True artists.”
Aaron Gang
Mar 2024
“You will not find a more capable group of Architects in Chicago, or in the entire country for that matter.”
You will not find a more capable group of Architects in Chicago, or in the entire country for that matter. They love what they do and it shows in every detail they draw!
Scott McGihon
Jan 2024
“Ed Twohey designed our new basement and reconfigured our main living area in our 1890 West Loop house.”
Ed Twohey designed our new basement and reconfigured our main living area in our 1890 West Loop house. He was creative, thoughtful and practical. We are thrilled with the end result. Ed is a tremendous resource and wonderful collaborator. I highly recommend Ed and his team.
Neil Kawashima
Nov 2023
“My name is Drew Daniels of Sexton Development and I’ve been building custom homes for 20+ years now.”
My name is Drew Daniels of Sexton Development and I’ve been building custom homes for 20+ years now. In that time, I have worked with dozens of architects, but I have to say Ed Twohey of BBA Architects has easily been my favorite. Selecting the right architect is one of the most critical decisions in building a custom home and I don’t say that lightly. I set a pretty high bar and Ed Twohey has always exceeded both mine and my client’s expectations with the homes we’ve worked on together. From working through Village and City reviews, to presentations before municipal boards, Ed and his team has always been timely, professional and forthright. Some of these projects take years from the very start to the very finish, so to know I’m working with a first-class architectural firm that is quick to respond and willing to go the extra mile to work through whatever onsite challenges arise (and there will be some) is essential for me. I just wish all the architects I’ve worked with were as thorough as BBA Architects. It’s always a pleasure working with this team and I look forward to many more builds in the future! Cheers BBA!
Drew Daniels
Oct 2023
“Ed Twohey and BBA Architects did an incredible renovation and build of our historic home.”
Ed Twohey and BBA Architects did an incredible renovation and build of our historic home. The process was a wonderful experience. Every detail was executed with perfection from keeping of historic elements to fine craftsmanship details. We felt heard and understood throughout the process and have been grateful living in such a comfortable and beautiful environment. There is nothing we would have changed or done differently. Thank you Ed and team for your vision and dedication to adding beauty to our historic neighborhood for generations to come.
Brooke Swanson
Oct 2023
“We used Gary Beyerl of BBA Architects to design our home, and it was a great decision.”
We used Gary Beyerl of BBA Architects to design our home, and it was a great decision. Gary is really creative in how he lays things out (there are virtually no hallways in our home), and his design touches are unique. Even after 10 years in our home, it still connects with people who see it for the first time. We recently had some new guests, and they had a bunch of questions about who came up with the staircase. I had to tell the story of how very early in the process Gary spent a day drawing that staircase by hand, and it made it through every iteration of the design. It was a joy to work with Gary and BBA throughout the process.
George Ruhana
Oct 2023
“We met with a number of different architectural firms, and we were blown away by BBA.”
We met with a number of different architectural firms, and we were blown away by BBA. We had an idea of the home we wanted to create, and the design Gary and his team presented was nothing short of amazing; better than we could have ever hoped. The entire process with BBA was wonderful. Honestly, I thought we were renovating a 5-year house, but we got our dream home!
Emmanuel Ramirez
Jan 2020
“Tim Kress from BBA designed our home's first floor renovation.”
Tim Kress from BBA designed our home's first floor renovation. We had some conceptual designs from other architects and design/build firms, and can say with confidence that the concept and drawings that we got from Tim would not have been delivered by anyone else. He did a great job taking into account the way we wanted our house to fit our lives and delivered. While they are not inexpensive, this was among the best money that we spend on our project.
Matthew Sollitto
May 2019
“Building your forever home is both a wonderful and terrifying experience—one hears countless...”
Building your forever home is both a wonderful and terrifying experience—one hears countless stories of crippling city bureaucracy, shady contractors, blown budgets, and poor materials derailing projects and leaving home owners broke and feeling helpless. In about a month, we will be completing our construction having avoided all of those missteps and settling into our forever home here in Chicago that is above and beyond anything we ever had imagined—and it is entirely because we selected BBA as our architects. We will forever be indebted to Gary and Tim. Not only was this our first build, but it is our first home. After decades of saving, we needed partners that would be patient, incredibly experienced, great listeners, set a high standard of quality (as we had little to reference), and lead us through this process step-by-step. All told, our project took a year to plan and a year to construct. During that timeframe, BBA helped create our dream concept design, determine material and detailed plans of the space, conduct a financial feasibility project (before we committed to construction), introduce us to a number of trusted general contractors to select from, tackle all of the city permit paperwork (including the moving of a light pole!) and provide ongoing construction administration throughout the build to ensure the quality and intent of our project hit the high standards BBA represents. We trusted BBA—we trusted their experience, their skill, their standard for quality—and they did not disappoint. They gave our family an elegant, timeless, and comfortable space to call home for generations to come. (P.S. - and we had a lot of fun throughout!)
