Chris Bennett ’09
Architect. Designer. Scholar.
As a student, Chris Bennett was inspired by legendary architect Jeanne Gang. Now, he works for her studio.
Chris Bennett ’09 always knew he wanted to build things. As a child, his parents fed his creativity with “endless boxes of Legos." (The apple doesn’t fall far—Bennett’s parents also work in interior design and contracting.) While studying Interior Architecture at Columbia College Chicago, he witnessed Studio Gang founder Jeanne Gang complete Chicago’s iconic Aqua Tower. Bennett received Master’s degrees in architecture and design from the University of Michigan and Harvard University, respectively, and in 2015, he joined Gang’s team. As an architect with Studio Gang, Bennett credits his success to the Columbia professors who taught him the rules he lives by today: “Work the problems—don't make problems. Understand client demands. Never stop learning. And there are no shortcuts.”
