Robert Benson Email & Phone Number

Architect, writer, artist, Robert is identified by his peers for his creativity, passion, humor, and talent. An adjunct professor for many years, he structures his design studio similarly to the manner in which he taught. His love of learning has him constantly gravitating toward new opportunities and challenges. Operating with a conceptual mind and a fascination with light and void, Robert has garnered over 30 major design awards from the AIA and IIDA. His work has been published and exhibited both nationally and internationally and he was named to Building Design + Construction’s National 40 Under 40. Robert continues to lecture across the country, most recently on “Post-Pandemic Adaptability” and “Storytelling: Ideas, Experience, and the Nature of Provocation”. Highly adaptable, Robert’s design expertise is informed by a broad range of project typologies. From Higher Education and K-12 to Science and Technology, Commercial Shell and Core to Hospitality, he makes connections and discovers insight through the unique challenges of each typology. Robert’s passion for research and ability to listen enables him to synthesize the interests of his client partners into the architecture they create. Robert holds degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Robert believes that to be truly successful we must “design with rather than for” meaning that the design process must include a greater community. Stepping outside one’s own knowledge and experiences, including a broader design voice of community, results in more meaningful and inspired architecture.

New York, Ny, Us

Design Principal - Worked Nationally and Internationally on a large range of project typologies. Responsibilities included building and managing a design studio, client leadership and business development, increasing the quality of design and brand awareness in the marketplace.Projects included Johns Hopkins APL B201, Showtime West Coast Headquarters, Western Michigan University Student Center, and Chamonix Hotel in Colorado. Typologies included: Higher Education, Science and Technology, Sports and Recreation, K-12, Commercial Shell and Core, and Commercial Interiors. Robert was published frequently and his work gained numerous awards.

Denver, Colorado, Us

Robert is an Associate Principal and Design Director for the Chicago Studio of 4240 Architecture. He is a respected panelist, a published and exhibited designer, and a finalist in a number of national and international design competitions and exhibitions including the Burnham Plan Centennial’s ‘Big. Bold. Visionary: Chicago Considers the Next Century’ and “the self sufficient city” at the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona 2010. Three of his recent built projects have received high recognition. A Chicago law office building earned the 2013 AIA Illinois Mies van der Rohe Honor award and a 2012 American Architecture Award. An extensive redevelopment of a previously out-of-use office building for the GSA received a 2013 AIA Distinguished Building Award, an American Architecture Award and earned the Best of Show award and a Premier award from the 2013 IIDA RED program. A branch bank prototype for CertusBANK was also honored with a merit award from AIA Denver.His cumulative, project experience is varied and includes large-scale hospitality, governmental facilities, commercial architecture, corporate interiors, municipal facilities, higher education, exhibition centers, low income housing, high-end custom housing, multi family housing and park planning. After finishing his graduate work at MIT, Robert was invited to attend the Ecole D’art Americaines-Ecole des Beaux Arts program in Fontainebleau, France where he received awards for his Arc et Senans and Chateau installations.Robert was honored with placement in Building Design + Construction’s 2007 top 40 under 40 program which recognizes outstanding leaders in the AEC industry. He continued his association with BD+C as award committee member, critic and design consultant valued for his imaginative, sustainable design aesthetic.Robert is also an accomplished artist and was featured in a solo show for his photography entitled “no thing” at the TOJO Gallery, Chicago.

Master Of Architecture, Architecture

Bachelor Of Science, Architectural Studies