Ben Wakelin AIA, LEED AP BD+C (he/him/his)

Ben believes the best projects are borne out of the community, and that community engagement is essential to ensuring that architecture serves the people intended for its use.

  • I’m from  Cape Elizabeth, ME.

  • My education  M.Arch I, Harvard GSD

  • Why PCA?  Great people. Great culture. Great work.

  • I’m drawn to design because  I'm inspired by the social aspects of architecture, how buildings and places shape people’s lives. I enjoy collaborating with talented individuals across various disciplines to bring complex projects to life.

  • A project I’m proud of  I take pride in all my work. My experience is across a vast array of project types including including retail, office, mixed-use, arts & entertainment, and housing. During my career, I have successfully navigated numerous projects of varying type and complexity through design, permitting and construction.

  • I’m excited about building technology that  solves real problems, not made-up problems. Sustainable design and resiliency are two of the most important problems facing architects today. It is critical that we respond to climate change in the most responsible and meaningful ways possible. I am dedicated to serving as a sustainability leader at PCA and beyond.

  • My favorite aspect of working with clients is  building relationships while working together towards a common goal.

  • I’m concerned about  preventing climate change and ending racism.

  • The nerdiest thing I do in my spare time  Ironically, architecture is the nerdiest thing I do in my spare time. Really, just ask my wife, who is a scientist, what it's like to be around a group of architects.

  • SketchUp or Revit?  That's like Sophie's Choice for an architect! Actually, I prefer Revit more and more these days over SketchUp. But, the correct answer to the question, SketchUp or Revit? is: Enscape!

  • If I could snap my fingers and become an expert in something, it would be  mind reading.

  • One thing most people don’t know about me  I once swam in Robert Rauschenberg's swimming pool on Captiva Island.

  • The most fulfilling thing I've done  Raise two children