We are passionate about giving back to the community — making great design accessible to everyone.

At the University of Tennessee, the firm has funded a portion of the BarberMcMurry Endowed Design Professorship at the UT School of Architecture + Design, in partnership with the estate of the firm’s founder, Charles I. Barber. The scholarship brings in internationally known design professionals to teach students through interdisciplinary design studios. BMA also funds an endowed scholarship at Pellissippi State Community College for students in interior design or engineering technology with a concentration in sustainable design.

BarberMcMurry employees have a 100% give rate to a United Way campaign each year, through which the firm’s annual donations are distributed to roughly a dozen community charitable organizations. Since 1998, BarberMcMurry has contributed more than $335,000 to the United Way of Greater Knoxville and the organizations it supports.   

Whether through pro bono design services, volunteer service, or charitable giving, we are proud supporters of the following organizations, just to name a few: 

• AHA Heartwalk
• AIA East Tennessee
• AIA Tennessee
• American Legion Post 2
• Blount Memorial Hospital Foundation
• Beck Cultural Exchange Center
• Downtown Knoxville Alliance
• East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Foundation
• East Tennessee Community Design Center
• East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association
• Emerald Youth Foundation
• Empty Stocking Fund of East Tennessee
• FLETCH Society of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
• Fort Sanders Foundation
• Girls, Inc. of the Tennessee Valley
• Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Knoxville
• Helen Ross McNabb Foundation
• HonorAir Knoxville
• InterFaith Health Center
• Kingdom Design Ministries
• Knoxville Museum of Art
• Leadership Knoxville
• Legacy Parks Foundation
• Methodist Medical Center Hospitality Houses
• Metropolitan Drug Coalition
• Pellissippi State Community College Foundation
• Rotary Club of Knoxville
• Sertoma Group Homes
• Susannah's House
• The Foundation for the College System of Tennessee
• The Muse Knoxville
• tnAchieves
• United Way of Greater Knoxville
• University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design
• University of Tennessee National Organization for Minority Architecture Students
• University of Tennessee Foundation
• Young Life