Archinect
Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison

New York, NY, US

 

About 

I graduated from Syracuse University School of Architecture cum laude.  My thesis on urban education was selected for the Thesis Awards Jury and was noted for an innovative approach to re-conceptualizing the relationship between education and community.  Educational architecture is one of my largest passions and stems from my 10 months of service with City Year teaching English in Boston inner city schools.  I have worked for 3 summers at Maryann Thompson Architects; a Cambridge based architecture firm that focuses in high end residential and small scale institutional buildings, where I worked on projects from schematic design to construction documents.  I have also done work for Jacobs Architectural Woodworking; a Syracuse based Woodworking Company that focus on custom furniture, where I completed shop drawings from a series of pieces ranging from cantilevered benches to multimedia walls.  My own furniture work has been put on display both in the School of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Architecture at Syracuse University.
 

Employment 

COOKFOX, New York, NY, US, Designer

I collaborated with a team of 3 to create the construction drawings and specifications for a 400 unit housing complex of supportive and affordable housing for the nonprofit, Breaking Ground. Since filing the design documents I have been performing construction administration on the project, including weekly field reports and running on site meeting with the owner and contractor.

In addition to my work on for the Breaking Ground project I have been a member of the Office's Revit team, developing the office Revit standards and generating Revit content and templates.

Jan 2015 - current
 

Payette, Boston, MA, US, Designer

Reviewed submittals and RFI’s during CA for the FOGG art museum in collaboration with RPBW
Contributed to competition design efforts for laboratory buildings at Stanford, Tufts and Northeastern
Key member of the design team for the Northeastern ISEC form competition through construction
Collaborated and coordinated both landscape and structural design for a NU campus extension bridge

Young Designers Core
Co-Chair
Organized educational events for young designers, ranging from construction tours to in house lectures
Planned and managed mentoring opportunities for designers to develope professional relationships

Oct 2012 - Jan 2015
 

McGinley Kalsow and Associates, Somerville, MA, US, Intern Architect

Prepared construction documents for historical resoration projects throughout Massachusettes
Coordinated with product manufactures to develope project specifications
Worked with historiians to provided accurate documentation and sensitive design solutions

Jun 2012 - Oct 2012
 

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, US, Wood Shp[ / Fabrication Lab

Supervised and taught efficient fabrication techniques with wood and other design materials
Provided design consultations for student and professor projects including scaled and full scale models
Developed rich knowledge of heavy machinery through the repair and maintenance of shop equipment

Aug 2008 - May 2012
 

Jacobs Architectural Woodworking, Syracuse, NY, US, Draftsman

Produced shop drawings for the renovation of Manly Field House at Syracuse University.
Detailed fabrication drawings for custom furniture including benches, cabinets, lockers and medawalls

Aug 2011 - Apr 2012
 

Maryann Thompson Architects, Cambridge, MA, US, Intern

SD, DD, and CD for high end residential and small scale institutional facilities
Collaborated in client design meetings both on site and off
Met with planning and zoning boards to clarify variances

Apr 2009 - Jul 2011
 

City Year Boston, Boston, MA, US, Coprs Member

Volunteered for10 months of service with the aim of increasing literacy rates in inner city schools
Developed daily lesson plans to teach first and second grade students before, during and after school
Coordinated and ran after school program engaging elementary school children in service based activities
Organized and lead physical service based projects to improve the community and educational environment

Aug 2006 - May 2007
 

Education 

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, US, BArch, Architecture

Aug 2007 - May 2012
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills