About Ben
Ben is currently a Design Partner of SUZUKI + KIDD Architects Inc. He was born in Tokyo and raised in Kyoto, Japan. Ben loves to introduce people to the cultural heritage of Kyoto, and he appreciates diverse cultures and traditions around the globe. After graduating from Kyoto Municipal Horikawa Senior High School, he received architectural degrees from The University of Michigan and Harvard University. Ben currently resides in the USA and loves to visit his family in Kyoto as often as he can.
Professional Practice
SUZUKI + KIDD Architects Inc: 2017-Present. Projects involve M. Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago, and Willow Creek Community Church, Huntley, IL.
Ids / BSK Design Inc: 1992-1994, 1996-2016. With a Korean architectural design office, Ids, Seoul, Korea, Ben participated in numerous design competitions including a collaboration with Anderson & Oh, Chicago. Projects ranges from large urban design projects, to institutional & commercial developments, and to residential projects in Korea, Japan, and USA.
Kenzo Tange Associates: 1994-1996. In the Tokyo Main Office of KTA, Ben led a design team that participated in various institutional, cultural, and commercial projects in Italy, Shanghai, Singapore, and Japan. The late Professor Kenzo Tange supervised the projects.
Perkins & Will: 1990-1992. Ben worked closely with Design Principals, Ralph Jonson, David Hansen, Jerry Johnson, and Tom Mozina, to participate in various international as well as domestic projects.
Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill: 1987-1990. Ben started at SOM Chicago Office, and later joined the SOM Los Angeles Office. Under the supervision of the late Bruce Graham in the Chicago Office, Ben led the design of Bishopsgate Phase-8, London. Later, he joined SOM LA to lead the design of American Honda IDS Building/Campus Planning,Torrance, CA under the supervision of Ron Flink. Ben was also instrumental in leading the design of various domestic and international commercial projects supervised by Richard Keating, including Fubon Banking Center, Taipei.
Apprenticeships: While Ben was attending the Harvard Graduate School of Design, he had an apprenticeship at The Stubbins Associates Inc., Cambridge, MA. After graduating from Harvard, he continued his apprenticeship at Cesar Pelli & Associates, New Haven, CT, prior to the engagement with SOM Chicago Office in 1987.
International Competitions
SK-Telecom Dae-Jeon Regional Office Tower Competition, Daejeon, Korea, '02-‘04 (First Place: Built)
Second District Court Office of Kyungkido Competition Project, Korea, 1997 (Mentioned)
Gae Yang (Kyeyang) District Court & Office Building Competition, Incheon, Korea, 1997 (Second Place)
Bung Dang Mixed-use Competition Project, Bundang, Korea, 1996 (First Place: Unbuilt)
Ulchiro 3-Ga Mixed-used Development International Competition, Seoul, Korea, 1996 (Mentioned)
Incheon City Science-Educational Center Competition, Incheon, Korea, 1996 (Mentioned)
Incheon District Court & Office Building Competition, Incheon, Korea, 1996 (Mentioned)
Incheon District Prosecutor’s Administration Office Competition, Incheon, Korea, 1996 (First Place: Built)
Pidemco Twin Towers Competition Project, Singapore, 1994—1995
Hanjung Heavy Industries Competition, Seoul, Korea, 1994 (Second Place)
Chek Lap Kok Airport Competition, Hong Kong, China, 1992
Aloha Tower Project Competition, Honolulu, HI, USA, 1990—1991 (First Place: Unbuilt)
Tower City Center Competition, Cleveland, OH, USA, 1989 (Unbuilt)
Other Projects
Willow Creek Community Church Huntley, Huntley, IL, USA, 2017
Pritzker Pavilion Design Project for Mrs. Mayari Pritzker, Chicago, IL, USA, 2016
Jeff McClusky & Associates, planning consultation, Chicago, IL, USA, 2008
Morinaga Residence, Planning, Programming, and Renovation Consultation, Kyoto, Japan, 2006
Watanuki Residence, Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan, 2001
Smith Residence, addition to, Wilmette, IL, USA, 1999 (Built)
Fitzpatrick Residence, addition to, Wilmette, IL, USA, 1998 (Built)
Christenson Residence, addition to, Wilmette, IL, USA, 1998 (Built)
SNAM / ENI Administration Commercial Center, San Donato Milanese, Italy, 1995
Shanghai International Art Center, Shanghai, China, 1994
Chongju Jinro Department Store, Chongju, Korea, 1994
Byucksan Mixed-use Building Project, Seoul, Korea, 1994
Chicago International Airport, Terminal 5, CD Phase, Chicago, IL, USA, 1991 (Built)
Fubon Banking Center, Taipei, Taiwan, 1988—1989 (Built)
Columbia Savings & Loan Project, Beverly Hills, CA, USA, 1988 (Unbuilt)
Ocean Boulevard Condominiums, Long Beach, CA, USA, 1989 (Unbuilt)
American Honda, Torrance, CA, USA, 1988—1989 (Built)
Canary Wharf, FC-2, Passenger Elevator Cab Design, London, United Kingdom, 1988 (Built)
Bishopsgate Project, Broadgate Phase 6, 7, & 8, London, United Kingdom, 1987—1988 (Built)
Disney Master Plan, Orlando, FL, USA, 1986
Fan Pier Project, Tower Design Study, Boston, MA, USA, 1986
GSA Building, Lobby Atrium, Boston, MA, USA, 1985 (Built)
GCC Cinema, Lobby Interior, Boston, MA, USA, 1985 (Built)
Publications & Articles
Daily Herald, Judson team wins building design contest, by Joanne C. Duffer, Neighbor, Section 5, page 1, Arlington, IL, Tuesday, December 17, 2002
The Courier News, Judson team wins architectural honors, by George Rawlinson, A3, Elgin, IL, Thursday, October 17, 2002
The Courier News, At Elgin's Colleges: Judson students to design murals for Moody Church, D3, Elgin, IL, Wednesday, December 26, 2001
Architalk, The Newsletter of AIA Northeast Illinois, IL, November 2001
A&C, Architecture & Design Competition, No. 21, Special Feature: Ids. Featuring our design projects of the past. http://www.ancbook.com/en/ Pages 26-57, Feb. 2000, Korea
Ralph Johnson of Perkins & Will, page 168-169, 200-201, 215, Rizzoli 1995
Structure: Journal of Japan Structural Consultants Association, Essay on Monumentality, page 35, No. 35. July 1990
Architecture & Urbanism, A+U, Special Feature: Richard Keating, Years at SOM 1976-1990, page 104-113. Page 128, No. 241, October 1990
Bruce Graham of SOM, Bishopsgate Project, Broadgate Phase 6, 7, 8. Page 142-149, Rizzoli 1989
Total Design, The Rising Architects, Emerging Voice in America, page 45, No. 71, April 1988, Korea
Investigation in Architecture, Eisenman Studios at GSD: 1983-1985. Page 40-41, ISBN 0-93567-04-3, Cambridge, MA, USA, 1986
Design Juries
AIA, Northeast Illinois Celebrate Architecture 2001 Honor Award Program Juror in the selection of various AIA regional awards from more than 50 entries. The other jurors were Janet Hahn Loug'ee, AIA, and Ed Uhlir, FAIA. November 2001
Judson College Library-Academic Center International Design Competition Juror in the selection of the designer-architect from invited entrants for the new Library-Academic Center, Judson University, Elgin, IL. The Finalists were: Holabird and Root, Chicago; Anderson and Anderson, Seattle + Zago Architects, Detroit; Randy Brown, Omaha; Perkins Eastman, New York City; Alan Short (Winner), London. December 2000—January 2001
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Master’s Thesis Design Juror, 1998
Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Career Discovery Studio Juror
Illinois Institute of Technology, Graduate Design Studio Juror, Chicago, IL
Kyoto Seika University, Undergraduate Design Studio Juror, Kyoto, Japan
Academic Appointment
Judson University School of Art, Design & Architecture, Elgin, IL, previously known as Judson College, Division of Art, Design & Architecture.
Professor of Architecture: September 2004—August 2008
AIAS Excellence in Architectural Education Award, Judson University, 2007-2008. Who's Who Among American Teachers & Educators, 2006-2007
Associate Professor of Architecture: September 1999— August 2004
- International Architecture Exchange Program: "East Meets West, A Search for Authenticity in Architecture." Special international exchange design studio, seminar, and field trip held with Kanto Gakuin University School of Architecture, Yokohama, Japan, September 2002.
Adjunct Professor of Architecture: July 1998—August 1999
Academic Service
Graduate Council, Judson University, Elgin, IL; September 2003—August 2008
Assessment Committee, Judson University, Elgin, IL; September 2003—August 2005
Master of Architecture Thesis Committee, Judson University, Elgin, IL
Faculty/Chair Search Committee, Department of Architecture, Judson University, Elgin, IL. Responsible for the successful selection of the new faculties from diverse backgrounds including the first African American Chair for the department in the history of the University.
Architecture Lecture Series Committee, Department of Architecture, Judson University, Elgin, IL. Chair 2000—2001, member 1998—2008. Guest Lecturers included: Rodolfo Machado, Margaret McCurry, Ralph Johnson, Bruce Kuwabara, John Patkau, Gunner Birkirts, Alan Short, Nader Tehrani, Will Bruder, et al.
New Library-Academic Center Committee, Judson University, Elgin, IL, 2000—2004. Advisory role and participation in planning, programming, site selection, competition method, architect-selection procedure, and competition jury.
Design Studies Task Force, School of Art, Design, and Architecture, Judson University, Elgin, IL; 1999-2005. Interdepartmental investigation task force for the reorganization and strategic planning of potential new visual arts programs including furniture, product, and interior design curricula.
Design Studio Committee, Department of Architecture, Judson University, Elgin, IL; 1998-2007. Development of core design studio sequences at undergraduate and graduate architecture design studios for the newly created architecture department at Judson University: Presentation, documentation, and exhibition display for the reviewing teams from NAAB and NCA.
Harvard University, Graduate School of Design (GSD); January 1986—May 1986
- Representative of GSD Search Committee: Under the supervision of Chairman Rafael Moneo, Ben was responsible for researching, interviewing, and recruiting Japanese architects, including Hiroshi Hara, Toyo Ito, et al., as candidates for the position of visiting studio instructor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Master’s Program in Architecture.
Exhibitions
NAAB Faculty Exhibition, March 10-14, 2007; March 27-31, 2004. Judson College, Department of Architecture, Elgin, IL.
DADA Faculty Art Show, 2003, 2005. Draewell Gallery, Fine Arts Building, Judson College, Elgin, IL.
Eisenman Studio at the GSD: 1983-1985. Harvard University, Gund Hall Gallery, Cambridge, MA, May 13-30, 1986.
Seminars, Conferences & Lectures
"Arts of Japan: Origin of Japanese Architecture, Man, Nature, and Spirit": Lecture with slide presentation presented at Richmond Center for the Visual Arts, Gwen Frostic School of Art, College of Fine Arts, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, November 17, 2008.
Harvard Design Magazine, Benefit Seminar With Rem Koolhaas: Roundtable seminar and discussion led by Koolhaas, Professor Sarah Whiting of Harvard, and Donna Robertson, Dean of the Architecture Department at the Illinois Institute of Technology, to discuss the controversial "The New McCormick Tribune Campus Center" for IIT. William S. Saunders, the Editor of Harvard Design Magazine, organized the seminar at the McCormick Tribune Campus Center, IIT, Chicago, IL. October 4, 2003
Chicago Shop Talk: workshop and discussion held at the Graham Foundation, led by Peter Rowe, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, to discuss three case studies of the urban housing development in Chicago, IL, April 14, 2003.
East Meets West Seminar: A Search for Authenticity in Architecture. Seminars and lectures presented for an International Architecture Exchange Program involving six students and Dr. Meiji Watanabe from Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama, Japan, and eight students from Judson College, Department of Architecture, Elgin, IL; September 8—September 15, 2002.
Theology Through the Arts: Theology and Built Environment Colloquium. International colloquium organized and led by Dr. Murray Rae, King's College, London, and Professor Alan Torrance, University of St. Andrews, UK. A total of ten participants from UK, New Zealand, Canada, and USA, were invited and sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI; September 4—September 6, 2002.
"Sublime Temple vs. Primitive Hut: An Origin of Architecture": lecture with slide presentation to lead the final panel discussion at the Evangelical Worship and Church Architecture Conference, Judson College, Elgin, IL; October 11—October 13, 2001.
Education
Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA. Master’s Degree in Architecture, March 1986. Admission with Advanced Standing, 1982. Harvard University Archives: Fall Semester Project 1983. Master's Thesis in Architecture: The Impasse of Architecture and The Architecture of Transcendency, 1986
The University of Michigan, College of Architecture & Urban Planning, Ann Arbor, MI, Bachelor of Science in Architecture, April 1982. Admission with Advanced Standing, 1980; Class Honors, March 26, 1982
Languages
Japanese and English