— with Derrick Tang

Rom-ing around

Site evaluationating

Dancing in the park — with Derrick Tang

Walk in the park after class — with Sam Kim and Derrick Tang

Benson heart

Walking back to our temp office at wework while our real office was relocating from Manhattan to Brooklyn. — with Morgan Mangelsen and Terry Chew

Rap album cover by the office. Shake shack break. — with Morgan Mangelsen

Deadlining with the DIAG team. — with Morgan Mangelsen

2009// senior year airband performance! Benson designed the t-shirts we wore.

We're both probably rocking the raw denim here. I'm wearing a superdry backpack because of Benson's influence, obvi

I mostly knew Benson back in high school / early college days. As I reflect on the moments that I've shared with him, I can undoubtedly say that Benson was the first "Renaissance Man"(well, boy) that I had the privilege of crossing paths with.I mean he did it all. Although most people in our high school were book smart, what made him unique was that he was creative, athletic, and fun. He even taught me how to backflip. There was little he couldn't do, and so it wasn't surprising that many girls crushed on him! RIP Benson - thank you for inadvertently influencing my interests, especially in superdry. I swear I wasn't trying to bite your style back then. I just wanted to be as cool as you. 

One of many picnics! — with Ana Fonceva

I met Benson working at BIG in 2016 or 2017. Being one of the youngest working there at the time (I was 20), I was lucky enough to find my people that quickly became close friends and felt like “cool older architecture siblings”. Benson was one of them. We spent a lot of time together around Fort Greene/Clinton Hill. Often late night bars and diners. I was still living at home so Benson and Ana would often come over, and we’d hang on the stoop and waltz around Brooklyn. We stayed in touch after we all departed BIG, meeting up for birthdays and random margarita happy hours. I went to visit another BIG friend Katie in Boston back in November 2022 and while walking around the ICA one random morning I remember catching a glimpse of someone, turning to Katie and saying “surely i’m wrong but I think I just saw Benson”. Thankfully I followed that gut feeling and texted him “hey it’s definitely not you but are you at ICA?” It was him. We ended up grabbing lunch and while discussing our plans for the weekend, Katie kindly invited them to Cape Cod with us and her dad for the weekend. Assuming one typically says no to such a spontaneous invite for a rather intimate weekend getaway, we laughed for quite some time when Benson immediately said yes as if he didn’t even have to think about it. It’s memories and friendships like these, where nothing feels too crazy or wild of an idea, that make you grateful for crossing paths with certain people. I will forever cherish my Brooklyn nights and spontaneous excursions with Benson - thank you for all the laughs, I miss you. 

At the end of a hike in Los Angeles which he undoubtedly did all the planning, all the driving, and provided all the enthusiasm for.

Benson’s DIY mega man getup for a holiday (?) party at BIG made mostly out of spray-painted bubble wrap. He left blue dot marks all over the back seat of the cab on the ride back to his and Ali’s place in Brooklyn. I think he was mildly mortified but was having way too much fun to worry about it. I think these frequent trips to visit Benson were the reason I fell in love with New York City and ended up living here.

In 2016, Annie, Aline, Sam, Benson and I got stuck in Stockholm on our way to Barcelona. When our airport bus broke down on the highway, we took our chances and hitch hiked to the airport. We all made it (I know, a miracle?) but our plane had already left. We ended up taking a night train to the next airport (pictured), which ended up being one of my favorite memories from the trip. For as long as I’ve known him, Benson knew how to rally a team. I felt like as long as he was around, the day could always be saved no matter how sideways it got.

Benson was the king of “let’s go on a detour so we can go see this very important building”. Here he is in front of the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Pavilion after our 5 hour “detour” in Norway.

In high school, Benson and I discovered we could use Adobe Illustrator to rip off the graphic tees and sweatshirts we saw at the mall. We would get them made at the local screen printing shop and then spend half a day in a parking lot taking “model pics” of ourselves using a camera propped up on the hood of his car. We really thought we were the hottest stuff in Fremont. I have hundreds and hundreds of these cringe photos. It was such a great time.

Benson and I were friends from high school and college. I remember feeling so comforted that he was also going to USC, that we would be heading on this new journey together. Through the years, we shared so much laughter and fun memories. He had a charm and charisma that always brightened up the mood, and every activity with him felt even more special with his presence. After graduating, he moved to New York and I moved back to the Bay, so it was such a treat whenever we saw each other. Each time we reconnected it felt like our friendship never skipped a beat. He truly lived to the fullest, and I'm forever grateful for the impact he's made on all of our lives.

Benson, Chris, and I having Sushi on Jones for breakfast.

Benson took me and Chris to a fast food joint, much to our confusion. He then led us upstairs to this gem that blew our minds.

Benson with one of his random majestic poses.