Over the last 30 years Ben has led approximately 1 billion dollars in projects across the state, representing over 1,200 projects.  Architects In Partnership has held a high position among the most revered architectural firms in Oklahoma because of his tireless service to his clients, effective leadership among his peers and by his commitment to the education and guidance of students who wish to follow in his footsteps.

Bennie Leon Graves (Ben) was born to Bennie and Margie Graves in Denison, Texas on February 15^th, 1945.  Ben’s father was a union concrete finisher and always moved to where the work was.  Throughout the 1950’s the family lived in Barstow, CA, McAlester, OK and back to Texas before finally settling in Oklahoma City in 1958.  Ben attended one year at Taft Jr. High where he was first exposed to mechanical drawing as part of Oklahoma City Public School’s curriculum.  As his brother Rick recalls, “…the man fell in love with design when he was 14 and never looked back.” 

In the summer of 59 Ben and his family moved to South Oklahoma City, into the Capitol Hill Jr & Sr. High School District. That is when Ben met John Magers at the Southside Lions Club & Park. At Capitol Hill Senior High, Ben met the teacher that would change his life, Mr. Conners taught mechanical drawing which also included architectural drawing. He took to the class immediately, even purchasing drafting equipment at Sears to do extra drawings at home. This enthusiasm led to being selected two yeas in a row to represent Capitol Hill High School at the State Drafting Contest at Oklahoma State University. During the three years under Mr. Conners guidance, Ben made the decision to pursue a degree in Architecture at the University of Oklahoma.

At the encouragement of two friends, John Magers and Phillip Casey, Ben decided to try to join the Capitol Hill wrestling team. During his sophomore year, Coach Crosby tried hard to find a wrestler in that body, to no avail. The junior year was spent with a full schedule of classes to support Ben’s college ambitions in addition to working at Variety Foods located at 44^th and Walker. The summer of 1962 the family moved to Moore, OK. Ben wanted to continue at, and graduate from Capitol Hill. He bought a 1958 Bel Aire to ferry him back and forth. Trying to save money for college, Ben took a job after school at the new Moore Humpty Dumpty store as a checker, a job that he maintained until being hired by the “School of Architecture.” 

After graduating from Capitol Hill High School in 1963 he enrolled in Architecture School at the University of Oklahoma, the first in his family to pursue a college degree.  In 1965 he met Sandrea Stover, a Capitol Hill graduate and they married.  Ben and Sandy had two sons, Darren in 1968 and Matthew in 1970.   After graduating in January of 1969, Ben enlisted in the Navy to attend Officer’s Candidate School and moved the family to Newport, RI.  In the evening he worked part time for a small architectural firm, (the Urban Design Group) in Newport where he was responsible for the design of a city park located on the harbor in Newport and other projects.  After his release from active duty in 1971 they moved back to Oklahoma where he worked for Fred Quinn in Midwest City.  Ben continued his apprenticeship with Fred until he became registered in 1974.  He successfully passed his licensing exam on his first attempt. 

He first formed Ben Graves & Associates in March of 1974 on Campus Corner in Norman with a focus on the design of private residences and projects for public education.  Ben Graves & Associates soon became changed to Architects In Partnership.  While managing his growing architectural practice in 1975 Ben also taught construction documents as an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma.  Ben truly enjoyed teaching at OU and fondly remembers a number of talented students that would later join the firm as apprentices, some like Dave Hornbeek and Wade Scaramuchi moved on to form their own successful firms.  In the mid ‘70’s and early ‘80’s Ben became interested in building and developing real estate.  While still leading a dynamic firm, he designed and built many single family and multi-family developments in Norman and Oklahoma City.  His involvement in real estate was not limited only to residential, he was a partner and headed up design on the renovation of the Black Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City, Brookhaven Village in west Norman in addition to many other commercial projects.  In 1980 Ben reorganized AIP and became Graves Williams & Associates with Clarence Williams and John Buckley joined as partners.  During the 1980’s GWA focused mainly on educational projects. Under Ben’s direction they became among the leading architectural firms in the state for public education.  In July of 1984 Ben sold his interest in Graves Williams & Associates to Clarence Williams and Jay Boynton and signed a 7 year non-competition agreement with his former partners.  During his seven-year departure from professional practice Ben focused on real estate development and served as a board member for United Bank in Norman where in 1985 he was honored as “Businessman of the Year”. 

Practicing architecture was what he truly loved and in 1991 Ben began his next successful firm by re-forming Architects In Partnership with his former partner John Buckley.  Ben and John founded AIP on the same principles that made Graves Williams & Associates a success; sound design principles, solutions that fit the budget and above all by providing exceptional client contact. They quickly added numerous school districts across the state to their list of repeat clients as AIP grew to be recognized as one of the state’s leading firms.  In 1992 then Governor David Walters appointed Ben to his first of three terms to the State Board of Licensed Architects and Landscape Architects.  His last term expired in 2006.  Ben served as a member of NCARB from 1992 to 2009 on the ARE grading and test preparation committee. The last 6 of those years he served as Chairman of “Methods and Materials Division.” During this period Ben was responsible for bringing CEFPI to Oklahoma, serving as past director of the Southern Region of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International Board of Directors.    Throughout his career Ben was involved in nearly every area that impacted the architectural profession; he was placed on the Board of Advisors of the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office, Faculty Selection Committee and National Accreditation Committee for the Oklahoma University School of Architecture, Faculty Selection Committee for the University of Oklahoma, and Accreditation Committee for OU.  He continues to serve on the Board of Visitors for the College of Architecture.   

In the late 90’s Ben realized that Oklahoma’s Counties had desperate need for improved detention facilities as the State Health Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office began enforcing stricter health standards and life safety requirements of county jails.  He began to educate himself on jail design, correctional standards and county government.  He worked directly with county officials and sheriffs around the state to identify existing facilities’ violations and develop strategies to solve their problems.  Thanks in large part to Ben’s drive to succeed; his firm has become a leader in detention facility design.  AIP has designed and built 19 county jails in Oklahoma over the last fifteen years, more than all other firms in the state. 

The firm’s success is directly attributed to Ben’s ability to look past his own interests and propose unique solutions that the counties would support.  The underlying theme of Ben Graves’ career is just that.  To him it was always most important to spend time looking for efficient and effective solutions that the community and tax payers would support.  Throughout his career he has been a “hands-on” architect putting the users’ needs first: often setting aside any personal aspirations to be recognized for theoretical design ideas in favor of solid solutions that would serve communities for generations.