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Building Community, One Home at a Time

Kelsey Munson on Sep 16, 2026

For the second consecutive year, BBA was proud to support the PAWS Chicago Peter Fasseas Golf Open, joining fellow animal lovers, volunteers and local businesses for a day dedicated to helping homeless dogs and cats find loving homes.

This year, BBA sponsored Hole No. 7, where Associates Jack McGowan and Monica Musialowski welcomed golfers with a little friendly competition. Their life-size Jenga game challenged participants to remove a block before teeing off for a chance to win BBA-branded golf balls. Thanks to some surprisingly strategic play, the tower stayed standing for most of the day before finally toppling to plenty of laughs.

The team's hole also sparked conversations beyond the game. Golfers stopped to admire photos of BBA-designed homes on display, with several asking about a striking Lake Michigan residence featured among them. It was a fitting reminder that, for many homeowners, great design isn’t just about the people who live there; it's about creating spaces for every member of the family.

That philosophy is one reason BBA looks forward to supporting PAWS each year. Many members of the firm's team have adopted pets through the organization, including Mr. Darcy, the office's unofficial "Chief Happiness Officer."

"To most of us, pets aren't just pets, they're family," Jack said. "PAWS understands that and does an incredible job giving these animals a second chance at a home."

Throughout the day, attendees also had the opportunity to meet adoptable dogs and hear their stories from PAWS volunteers. Monica said one of the highlights for her was meeting a black Lab mix she was "so tempted to bring home." She also appreciated hearing about each dog's personality and learning more about the work that goes into helping every animal find the right family.

For BBA, the connection between architecture and animal welfare is more natural than it might seem. Today's custom homes are increasingly designed with pets in mind, incorporating features like dog wash stations, built-in feeding nooks, hidden litter box access, pet gates and thoughtfully integrated dog doors.

"While we work on the physical environment and space for families, sometimes we get lucky enough to work on 'forever' homes," Monica said. "PAWS works to find pets their forever families. In a way, our missions are similar."

As more homeowners look for ways to make life easier for every member of the household, those kinds of pet-friendly features have become an increasingly thoughtful part of residential design, serving as another reminder that home isn't just for the humans who live there.

Supporting PAWS is about more than a day on the golf course. "It's important to be part of the community and give back to causes near and dear to us," Monica said. That commitment, along with a shared belief that every family deserves a place to belong, is what keeps BBA coming back year after year.

Thank you to PAWS Chicago for another fantastic Golf Open and for the incredible work you do every day. We're proud to support an organization that brings pets and families together, and we look forward to returning next year.

 

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