Our Story

FPC's history reflects the colorful and unique history of San Antonio. The firm's founding partner, O'Neil Ford, came to San Antonio in 1939 as an architect for the National Youth Administration. Working with the San Antonio Conservation Society, he directed the restoration of historic La Villita on the banks of the San Antonio River. Ford married and stayed in San Antonio until his death. In the meantime he built a practice with a national and international reach that became a partnership and then a corporation.

Like many of its contemporaries, the firm followed the Baby Boom generation, first building primary schools, then secondary schools, and finally college and university campuses and buildings. Many of the iconic buildings and places in San Antonio, such as the Tower of the Americas, the Alamo and the Spanish colonial missions, Trinity University, the Urban Segment of the Museum Reach of the River Walk, San Fernando Cathedral and many others were designed or restored by the firm.

Our Philosophy

FPC has always been concerned with making vital, active places, whether they be public plazas and squares, university campuses or waterfront recreational spaces. Our approach to design has always included a concern for common sense economy, using regionally produced materials, and for environmental sustainability through the conservation of water and a sensible design of buildings for our climate.

FPC provides a broad range of services from planning and programming through historic preservation, architectural and interior design, and construction administration. Our work includes large residential commissions often on ranches in the Southwest, the design of world-class fine arts projects, large-scale restoration and renovation projects for public and private clients alike, ground-breaking design for education institutions, and preservation of houses of worship across the State.

1937
1937A competition earned O'Neil Ford and his then partner, Arch Swank, the opportunity to design the chapel, now known as the little chapel in the woods, for the Texas Woman's University in Denton.
1939
1939O'Neil Ford comes to San Antonio from Dallas to direct the restoration of La Villita for the National Youth Administration.
1948
1948Design for Trinity University's new campus begins by Ford, along with Bartlett Cocke and Harvey P. Smith. Ford later designed many campus buildings.
1957
1957Slick Residence design by O'Neil Ford for his friend and renowned inventor, businessman, and oil man Tom Slick.
1958
1958Ford designs the La Villita Assembly building, drawing inspiration from the bicycle-wheel roof design initially employed by Edward Durrell Stone in the U.S. Pavilion at the Brussels World’s Fair.
1958
1958O'Neil Ford is commissioned to design the new Texas Instruments Semiconductor Building in Dallas, along with Richard Colley, Sam Zisman, and Arch Swank.
1960
1960O’Neil Ford elevated to the AIA's College of Fellows.
1963
1963Ford design the Intercontinental Motors Building on Broadway in San Antonio, the first Volkswagon dealership in the United States.
1966
1966Carolyn Peterson is assigned to one of the firm's first restoration projects - Mission San Juan, setting into motion Peterson's career as a leading preservationist in the office and state.
1966
1966Chris Carson and Boone Powell are made partners of the firm, and Ford, Powell & Carson is born.
1968
1968San Antonio hosts the World's Fair, with a master plan and crowning achievement, The Tower of the Americas, designed by FPC shaping the skyline of San Antonio even today.
1970
1970Ford plans the original phase of the new University of Texas campus in San Antonio, and designs many buildings for the site.
1974
1974O'Neil Ford named a national historic landmark by President Lyndon B. Johnson, becoming the only person to have ever been given such designation.
1978
1978O'Neil Ford receives the Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Honor of Llewellyn W. Pitts FAIA from the Texas Society of Architects.
1978
1978The firm is first contracted by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish a master plan for the Alamo Complex. This begins an almost 50-year relationship of continued work on this historic site.
1979
1979Carolyn Peterson named principal.
1980
1980Boone Powell elevated to the AIA's College of Fellows.
1982
1982O'Neil Ford dies at age 76.
1985
1985Firm designs the historic Paseo del Alamo, the beautiful walkway connecting Alamo Plaza to the River and the Riverwalk.
1990
1990Carolyn Peterson becomes the first female architect in the state of Texas to be elevated to the AIA's College of Fellows.
1991
1991John Gutzler named principal.
1992
1992Chris Carson elevated to the AIA's College of Fellows.
1995
1995Firm takes on first of a series of projects on the restoration of the Texas State Capitol.
1997
1997John Mize named principal.
2004
2004Boone Powell receives the Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Honor of Llewellyn W. Pitts, FAIA from the Texas Society of Architects.
2009
2009Carolyn Peterson becomes the first woman to receive the Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Honor of Llewellyn W. Pitts, FAIA from the Texas Society of Architects.
2015
2015Boone Powell Retires.
2015
2015Rachel Wright and Adam Reed named principals.
2016
2016Boone Powell and Chris Carson awarded the O'Neil Ford Medal for Design Achievement.
2019
2019Chris Carson receives the Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Honor of Llewellyn W. Pitts FAIA from the Texas Society of Architects.
2019
2019Chris Carson Retires.
2020
2020Adam Reed receives the Award for Young Professional Achievement in Honor of William W. Caudill FAIA from the Texas Society of Architects
2020
2020FPC becomes recognized as a Woman Owned and Historically Underutilized Business
2021
2021FPC moves to the historic San Antonio Light Building