Meet Benita Cooper

We were lucky to catch up with Benita Cooper recently and have shared our conversation below.

Benita, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

When I was young, I thought creativity is just something fun and playful. I was always making up new games for classmates to play together at recess, to manage everyone’s requests and keep our little days fresh.

Now that I am older, I realize it is something fearless and powerful.

Creativity is a skill I use to meet clients, collaborators, communities’ needs, against all odds, at any budget, and keep our complicated lives fresh, meaningful and purposeful. It’s a spark that can take on whatever the problem at hand is, and break through preconceived boundaries – whether it’s a powder room that’s got a leaking ceiling, a kitchen with a dysfunctional layout, a first floor that feels tired and congested, a house that’s too small, a building that’s improperly structured, a storefront or business/institutional headquarters that is missing an authentic identity, an old historic home or building that is falling apart and needs to be brought back to life, a main street in a small town that has lost hope and needs a new landmark to bring neighbors together and redefine joy and optimism.

Fortunately/unfortunately, fueled by a massive creative urge, I am always attracted to problems. I dive in, let creativity do the work, and I am happiest when I feel like I am able to solve a problem for someone else. There’s a spirit of service and giving. It’s why, of all the art media, all of which I love, I chose to pursue architecture as a career. I feel like it’s a giving art form. I feel like every building or space I do is a way to help someone or a community, to improve some aspect of life.

It’s also why, while I was trained and am licensed as an architect, my business/service approach is relationship based and client first, and that means providing the full spectrum of services. My firm delivers a complete integration of architecture, interior selections, exterior selections, landscape coordination, project management, and I also run a fabrication company to design-build custom furniture, signage, fixtures. Having all of these services at my fingertips means that no matter what the next design problem is, I know I have what it takes to fix it. This anticipation, this welcoming of whatever tomorrow will bring, keeps my creativity wildly alive.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have a lot of energy. For me (and I know how counter-intuitive this must sound!) I find a sense of comfort and balance when I am pursuing all my passions.

Here are a few facets of me.

I am the wife of an endlessly supportive husband, and the mom of two bright, incredible boys, aged nine and eleven. The reason why I do everything else is to provide for them, show them that they can grow up do anything they feel called to do, and make sure they respect girls and women as equals.

I am the owner and principal architect of Benita Cooper Design: a full-service architecture, design, management firm. We do residential and commercial work throughout Greater Philly and South Jersey, from renovations of all sized, additions to new builds.The reason I do it is to in some small way hopefully improve the quality of people’s lives. https://www.benitacooperdesign.com/

I am a co-owner of Coop Forge: a fabrication shop specializing in custom furniture, signage and architectural fixtures. The reason why I do it is because I am a maker at heart. As my responsibilities get bigger and more multi-faceted in my life, making physical pieces with innovative, original details keeps me inspired. https://coop-forge.com/

I am a STEM educator and advocate. I run educational workshops called BCD Build Club to inspire youth to innovate and collaborate, and introduce them to the architecture, construction and fabrication industries. I also host and speak at STEM events for women.

I am the founder and president of the nonprofit organization, The Best Day of My Life So Far, and an advocate for older adult mental health and intergenerational engagement. Inspired by the stories and friendship of my late grandmother, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a cure for social isolation by empowering older adults to share life stories and inspiring human connection across generational and social divides. My nonprofit work is a significant part of my life. While my design career focuses on material things (that ultimately contribute to human relationships), my nonprofit work focuses completely and directly on human relationships, and keeps me grounded. https://www.bestdayofmylifesofar.org/

I grew up in Hong Kong as a child, in Seattle as a teenager. I have also lived in Mexico, Italy, Chile. We love taking our kids abroad. Culture is important to me because it reminds me of how big and full of possibilities the world is.

My hobbies are art, modeling (for high-design car and fashion brands), and learning to fix cars!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

As life evolves, what holds me together are these core qualities:
Purpose
Gratitude
Fearlessless

No matter what your professional or life goals are, these are qualities that can help in any journey.
Purpose – You will feel this if you choose to pursue something that you are deeply passionate about. Passion will naturally give you, and replenish you with, an overall sense of purpose.
Gratitude – You will feel this if you remember that every supporter and client you have met along your journey has opened you to another new possibility. How miraculous is that? Your journey is shaped by the hands of so many.
Fearlessness – You don’t have to be born with this. You can and you will earn this with experience. Every failure is a lesson learned. Every lesson learned is another bit of extra strength to face the next challenge. And soon, you will have all the confidence you need to face anything head on.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I believe strongly that it takes loyalty and teamwork to move mountains. Collaboration is a huge part of my life and work, and my mind is wide open. When I meet someone that I feel a synergy with, ideas and projects tend to present themselves. I feel very lucky that way.

My architecture firm is made up of a small, close-knit team, supported by a robust network of suppliers, installers, builders, engineers. I shape project teams by drawing from all of the strengths everyone offers. The sort of people I am looking to collaborate with must be at the top of their game and also have the same appreciation I have for others’ diverse personalities and uniqueness.

If you are a contractor or vendor for example, not only is it essential that you are know and love your craft of building, it is absolutely required that you demonstrate ethics and respect in the way you carry yourself on and off the job site. I want to stand for a higher standard than the norm. If this describes you, and you live and work in the PA/NJ area, please shoot me a message on Instagram @benitacooperdesign or shoot us an email at [email protected]. If you are a high-design brand that want to join forces in some creative, boundary-breaking way, I am all ears! Check out our Instragram for collab examples and message me with your ideas!

If my nonprofit mission resonates with you, please visit our website www.bestdayofmylifesofar.org, watch our video, and check out our programs – email [email protected] to bring a program to your neighborhood.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.benitacooperdesign.com
• Instagram: @benitacooperdesign @coopforgemobile @bestdayofmylifesofar
• Linkedin: Benita Cooper

Image Credits

Image Credits:

Benita Cooper Design
The Best Day of My Life So Far – photo with grandmother