AIA NJ Names Ben Lee, AIA, Architect of the Year

February 13, 2018

Service Award Chair Robert Cozzarelli, AIA, and AIA NJ President Verity Frizzell, AIA present Ben Lee, AIA, his Architect of the Year Award. Photo by Hollander Photographic Services

Ben Lee has advanced Health Care Design at NK Architects into a national Health Care practice. Through his involvement with AIA, Healthcare Organizations and Communities he is an advocate of Wellness in the built environment. For this, and more, AIA NJ is recognizing Ben Lee, AIA, as 2017 Architect of the Year. 

Using his design and management skills through implementation of the Best Practice Model, Evidence-Based Design and LEAN process improvements, Ben has improved operational and financial efficiencies. His health care practice withing NK has spanned the full spectrum Life Cycle of Care from birth/ nursery care, mental health, long-term care and hospice center with work throughout the country. His devotion to Health Care has expanded from providing for Health Care needs of our community to the management of population health as a focus of the Affordable Care Act.

At NK Architects, Ben is a managing principal and CFO with an MS Degree in Management. Over the past 28 years, he has developed the firm’s healthcare practice to the current ranking among the top 50 in the country and the top 10 in the NY Metropolitan area. He is a registered architect in 25 states and a board-certified healthcare architect by ACHA, a Professional Planner and LEED AP. Upon graduation with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, Ben began his career as VISTA volunteer working with the Archi5tects Renewal Committee in Harlem, the first community design center in the country. His interest in caring for the community has evolved into a focus in HealthCare design after working with major firms such as Gruzen and Partners, Welton Becket, HLW and The Grad Partnership.

Ben was 2011 President of the Architects League of Northern New Jersey and received their highest award, The Vegliante Award, in 2015. He is the immediate past president of AIA NJ and used his time in 2017 to create a platform for AIA NJ to work with local and state governments and healthcare organizations to address Health and Wellness in our population. His goal is to have architects become more aware of the Health and Wellness opportunities throughout the built environment.

Congratulations, Ben Lee, AIA!

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in AIA-NJ News | Tagged: @WellBuildings, #BenLeeAIA, #NKArchitects, #ServiceAwards, #wellness | Comments (0)