Rook creates projects that spur growth
Ben Rook, an architect for 44 years, founded Design Strategies in 2002 with a focus on “catalytic projects,” or those that inspire additional development. Previously chairman and CEO of Odell Associates in Charlotte, then the largest firm in the Southeast, he moved to Greenville in 2001 when he found out that the only residence on his design resume was for sale. He decided to buy it, move to Greenville, and start a company.
The firm, which employs 50, has worked on many high-profile projects, including the Liberty Corp. headquarters, Michelin North America’s headquarters and projects at the International Center for Automotive Research. Now working on Cancer Survivors Park, set to break ground this fall between Cleveland Park and Falls Park, Rook plans to continue bringing his unique blend of skills and expertise to projects that benefit the community.
What services does Design Strategies LLC provide?
Our firm is really focused on catalytic projects – projects that lead to additional projects or leverage other projects around the site. Not only do we design environments and buildings, but we design strategies for people to be successful. A typical engagement might not even include buildings. We look at how we can improve processes and procedures, how to streamline what we are doing. We do lean evaluations for our clients to help them do more with less. And if you design a building, what is the business strategy behind that building? It needs to meet its objective.
You offer many services not typically found at architecture firms. Is that by design?
We have an uncommon array of services. We have a broad mix of educational expertise here: masters in real estate, MBAs, people with degrees in consulting, people who are planning and design-oriented, landscape architects, interior designers. The whole gamut of putting together an environment, filling in a void the client can’t.
We can help with strategic business planning, help with organizational structures, do demographic and market analysis. Clients hire us when they have disparate groups they are trying to merge. We can pull those entities together.
What is your educational background?
I went to Clemson undergrad, and then to graduate school there. Those are architecture degrees. Then I did graduate work at Berkeley in design methods, and then a degree at Harvard that focused on strategic planning, business planning, putting public money with private money.
Besides the Cancer Survivors Park, what other public-private ventures have you been involved in?
I did the original master plan for ICAR and did the first building out there, the BMW Information Technology Research Center. Then while serving as chair of the South Carolina Endowed Chairs Program, we were taking money from the lottery program and placing that in public-private ventures to be catalytic for research, building the knowledge-based economy.
Here in town, we did Main@Broad, the green beside City Hall, Greenville Health System’s Patewood and Greer campuses and the building for the new medical school, among others.
When did you decide you wanted to be an architect?
I wanted to be an artist, and my dad convinced me I shouldn’t be. He was right. Architecture was the path I chose, and I’m glad I did. People who are artistic gravitate toward it because you want to create inspiring environments.
You’ve served on numerous community boards, including Artisphere, the United Way and the March of Dimes, along with advisory boards at Wofford College, Furman University and Clemson University. What inspires you to be involved in so many organizations?
I grew up in Newberry, S.C., a small town, and there wasn’t an awful lot of activity. I was very involved in Boy Scouts and pursued the Eagle Scout program. When you are going through 20 or 30 merit badges and they are all community service, you either love it or you don’t, and I loved it. Helping people is something I always try to do. It’s the attitude of trying to make a place better than when you began.
You’ve worked closely with arts organizations. Why do you feel they are so important?
Greenville’s arts community is magnificent, and I’m passionate about that. Arts programs have a lot to do with the growth of the community, since companies are looking for activities for executives and their families to participate in. Because of that, we’ve been fortunate to recruit companies that other communities haven’t. Arts are catalytic to Greenville’s growth.
