Mark Benjamin. 1950 – 2013
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| Mark Benjamin City and Community Builder |
SUSAN CLOKE
Columnist
Mark Benjamin was a guy with an easy
going manner and a work hard ethic.
He began in the construction business as an apprentice carpenter at
Morley Builders, a family company started by his father in the 1950’s to meet
the post WWII housing boom. Mark Benjamin went on to become the CEO
of Morley and to be the founder of Benchmark Contractors.
In their mission statement Morley
Builders define themselves as being “an innovative and
entrepreneurial company of individuals with integrity, working together to
build quality projects with pride and dignity. The overriding
principle we all share is integrity of character. From this flows the traits of
honesty, respect for others, ethical behavior and being profitable without
being predatory.”
Mark Benjamin lived
the principles of the company. He
was known for the integrity of his work.
He also lived the principles of his company in the many ways he contributed
his skills and knowledge and support to his local community.
Morley and the second
family company, Benchmark Contractors, were major construction companies in
Southern California. Under Mark’s leadership the companies
expanded and he was known for incorporating sustainable building practices and
new technologies.
Their clients included: studios 20th Century Fox
and CBS; institutional buildings for the California Institute of Technology,
California Institute of the Arts, the California Science Foundation; medical
buildings for City of Hope, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center and Saint John’s Health Center; libraries and exhibition and performance
spaces for the City of Santa Monica, Huntington Foundation, LA County Museum of
Art, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Mark Benjamin was also committed to community building and
his company adopted Grant Elementary School, four blocks from their home office
in Santa Monica. Benjamin is an original supporter of the
ACE Mentor Program in Los Angeles. This program introduces high school students
to career possibilities and learning opportunities in architecture,
construction and engineering.
Mark supported Habitat for Humanity, the Los
Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, City of Hope Medical
Center and the Idaho Conservation League.
In Idaho, where he had a second home, and
in Southern CA where he supported Nature Bridge, Yellowstone Association, Wood
River Land Trust, and the Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families, Mark found
ways to demonstrate his support for environmental protection and enhancement.
Mark Benjamin’s professional credits
include serving as president of the American Council for Construction Education
(ACCE), providing leadership to the Architectural Guild at the University of
Southern California, contributing to the work of the Structural Engineers
Association of California, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and the
American Institute of Architects and the American Concrete Institute.
Santa Monica has lost a talented,
generous and kind member of the community. We were so very fortunate to have his presence in our lives
and in the life of our City.
