Malden Resident Named Partner At Boston Architecture Firm

MALDEN, MA — A resident has become one of the newest owners of a Boston architecture firm.

Ben Wan was named a partner at RODE Architects as the Boston-based architecture and design firm celebrates its 20th anniversary. Wan, who joined RODE in 2010 as the firm's first employee, becomes one of the first new members of its ownership group since the company was founded in 2005. He was promoted to principal in 2023 after helping shape the firm's culture, design philosophy and portfolio for more than a decade. According to the firm, Wan has built a reputation for translating complex design, sustainability and policy challenges into innovative architectural solutions for clients. His work includes the 52 New Street affordable housing development in Cambridge, CommonWealth Kitchen's food incubator, the Appalachian Mountain Club's new headquarters and the Harvard Art Museums' off-campus conservation lab and research center. A graduate of Northeastern University with a master's degree in architecture, Wan will continue leading projects across RODE's expanding portfolio while helping advance the firm's design leadership and long-term growth in his new role.

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Wan has a history of being an active community member in Malden. In 2020, he spoke in favor of a proposed redevelopment project before the city's Planning Board as a resident. Public records identify Wan as a resident of Bainbridge Street in Malden, where he advocated for additional housing and redevelopment in the city.

"For 20 years we've believed that our greatest asset is our people," co-founder Eric Robinson said. "Bringing Ben and Jess into the ownership of the firm isn't simply recognizing outstanding leaders, it reflects who we've always been. They helped build RODE into what it is today, and we're excited to have them help lead the next phase of the firm's growth."

Co-founder Kevin Deabler said the firm's mission has always been to build an organization that would outlast any one individual. He said Wan and Haley have earned the trust of clients, colleagues and the community over many years, and that expanding ownership within the RODE family will help strengthen the firm's future while preserving the collaborative culture that has defined it since its founding.

Founded in 2005, RODE is a Boston-based architecture, interior design, and urban planning firm with offices in Boston's South End. The firm designs residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional and community projects throughout New England, with a portfolio that includes affordable housing developments, hotels, restaurants, schools, civic buildings and workplace interiors. According to the company, expanding its ownership group reflects a long-term commitment to developing leadership from within the organization. Wan's promotion, along with principal and Director of Interior Design Jessica Haley's appointment as partner, marks the first expansion of the firm's ownership in its 20-year history.

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