Ben signed up fresh from working as an architect in London and Melbourne where, as he says, he consulted on projects where “staggering money” was invested in historic homes that had been around since the time of Henry VIII. Here his first assignment was the Saint Kentigern College arrivals building; he had never worked on a school before but has gone on to become the studio’s education specialist.
That role, unexpected as it was, has brought visceral satisfaction. One project in particular – Tarawera High School – made real the message that architecture, done well, can in fact be life changing. Alongside the Ministry of Education and a new Establishment Board of Trustees, the team delivered a facility that has been transformational. “When we started, many classrooms had holes in the floor covered over with plywood, and boarded-up windows,” recalls Ben. Vandalism was rife, graffiti defaced the walls. “The students did not feel valued, and the school found it hard to attract staff.”
Fast forward to today when a wharenui at the heart of the plan keys into the culture, history and natural landscape of the area. A flourishing performing arts programme makes full use of the theatre, music centre and whare tapere, and teachers actively seek out positions at this Decile 1 school. In 2013, its first year of opening, Tarawera High School (born of the merging of an intermediate school and college, and operating out of dilapidated, poorly functional 50-year-old buildings) recorded an NCEA Level 1 pass rate of just over 36%. Five years post rebuild and following the introduction of several te ao Māori behaviour-management strategies, that had rocketed to 88% (attendance increased too, from 68% in 2013 to 82% in 2016). For Ben it has been a privilege to have played a part in such a success story: “It’s obvious that the kids now have a sense of belonging and pride in their school,” he says.
While he loves that his skills in design and exacting documentation have a positive impact on a societal level, Ben still wants to explore the microcosm, through building his own family home. In February he heads away on a well-deserved three-month sabbatical, with his wife and two young children. En route to the UK and Europe, they’ll stop off in Shanghai where Ben once made a research trip to study car stackers for an RTA Studio project. If he can squeeze in some architectural visits he will, but one is already firmly on the kids’ agenda - Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, which featured as Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter film series.
Maintaining work-life balance while his children are still young is top of mind for now and the next 20 years. For Ben, who started when RTA Studio was based in D72 on Dominion Road, things have only moved in the right direction. He has enjoyed watching the practice grow and relishes the collegial environment of working alongside the whole team in the current Auckland office: a converted Morningside warehouse. Design may have moved from the drawing board to 3D modelling, but it has evolved to better embrace culture, context and community. Even the in-house coffee has improved – from plunger to machine.
When Ben left New Zealand for his big OE, his then boss said, “You have to try on a lot of hats to find one that fits”. “I think I’ve found it,” he says. “Architecture gives me energy. It is a great lens to look at life through.”