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In memory of

Benson Chien

New York, NY
July 8, 1992 - May 7, 2025
Jul 8, 1992 - May 7, 2025
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Daniel Chang
May 18, 2025, 2:12 p.m. EDT
2010, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Benson was the first friend I made at USC—brilliant, kind, and unwaveringly himself. We spent late nights dreaming about the future, full of wonder and possibility.

He poured his soul into architecture, often pulling all-nighters to perfect each project. On the rare nights he let me steal him away for just ten minutes to grab food, those brief escapes became some of my favorite memories—sitting under the glow of streetlights, trading hopes and half-formed dreams.

His passion was contagious. Watching him chase his vision with such drive inspired my own. He made me feel safe, seen, and deeply motivated. Losing him feels unbearably unfair—but the imprint he left on my life, and so many others, will never fade.

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On the way to Benson’s birthd…
2017, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, USA
On the way to Benson’s birthday dinner (with an inconvenient number of balloons and ~3lbs of sour gummies) and before running into a street carnival
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Working at H&dM office in…
2023, Basel, Switzerland
Working at H&dM office in Basel
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H&dM team trip to Amherst…
2022, Amherst, MA, USA
H&dM team trip to Amherst College
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Thanks for having us at your …
2023, New York, NY, USA
Thanks for having us at your hotpot dinner
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Another photo from the lectur…
2013, USC - School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Another photo from the lecture hall of Benson in class.
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Architecture field trip to Sa…
2011, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA
Architecture field trip to Salk Institute
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Sharing USC Trojan pride! I u…
2012, USC - School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Sharing USC Trojan pride! I used to sit next to Benson in most of our big architecture lecture classes. He always had a cheerful attitude and a smile on his face. Regardless of sleepless nights spent in studio, Benson always had positivity and sense of joy in his presence.
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Benson visiting for 2015 grad…
2015, USC - School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Benson visiting for 2015 graduation. (Left to right) Polly, Ashley, Benson
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Benson came back to USC to ch…
2015, USC - School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Benson came back to USC to cheer on our 2015 graduating class although he decided to take a gap year to work in NYC. (Left to right) Adan, Isabelle, Martin, Benson, Ashley
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USC Architecture field trip a…
2011, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA
USC Architecture field trip at Salk Institute
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Justin Ch
May 18, 2025, 2:26 a.m. EDT
2005, Fremont, CA, USA
Benson and I carpooled and went to the same  After School Tutor in 7th or 8th grade ( MIT ) located near the Warm Springs area in Fremont. During breaks we would sometimes get Fried Chicken or Milk Tea from the restaurant next door. We would even sneak into a playground that belonged to some other after school program. It was located behind the building - we had to open a gate to get in, and it was the funniest thing at the time. I'm pretty sure one time we heard someone that was coming out some door and ran back to the tutor place as fast as possible. He always had doodles of very well drawn Anime - type characters on his papers and he sometimes drew on the whiteboard as well.  I remember his handwriting being so impeccably clean and readable. At the tutor, he always knew how to solve the problems with speed and accuracy - you just 'knew' that he was a  highly intelligent individual from being around him. The irony was that he probably didn't need a tutor at all or ever. I'm glad that he was able to translate his drawings skills that he had at a young age into his career. 
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Weekly 4 hour Hotpot
2024, East Village, Manhattan, New York, NY, USA
Weekly 4 hour Hotpot
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First Date!
2019, Boston, MA, USA
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5 star food service
2024, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York - Main Hospital, York Avenue, New York, NY, USA
5 star food service
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Animal Whisperer
2024, New York, NY, USA
Animal Whisperer
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Chasing the Solar Eclipse!
2024, Syracuse, NY, USA
Chasing the Solar Eclipse!
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Last trip to upstate. The mos…
2024, Storm King Art Center, Museum Road, New Windsor, NY, USA
Last trip to upstate. The most memorable trip
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Peem and Benson
2020, Cambridge, MA, USA
Peem and Benson
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Recent contributions

$100.00
Hahn Lee
$150.00
Jerry Lee
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Jane & Michael
See all contributionsRight arrow
Helping hands

In lieu of flowers

Please consider a donation to Benson’s Memorial Fund.
$28,991.00
of $10,000 goal
289 %
Learn more & giveRight arrow

Recent contributions

$100.00
Hahn Lee
$150.00
Jerry Lee
$50.00
Jane & Michael
See all contributionsRight arrow

Recent contributions

$100.00
Hahn Lee
$150.00
Jerry Lee
$50.00
Jane & Michael
See all contributionsRight arrow
Created with love by Kendall Chien (Benson's brother) and Yifei Wu.
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