Place Associates is a multi-disciplinary firm specializing in planning, landscape architecture and real estate development founded in 2021. Over the past 20 years, founder Ben Wieseman has assembled, designed, managed, leased and envisioned buildings, projects and development deals; providing design, planning, economic and real estate development services to municipalities, organizations and developers around the Southeast.
We assist municipalities, owners and design teams in seeing their development goals become reality, culminating in successful places where people live, work, and thrive. We achieve this though expertise in market segments, project management, vision casting, financial planning, team development, planning, design services and acquisition. We help you put all the pieces in place, from concept to completion.
It begins with an initial consultation to discover the underlying goals of your project. We then help to assemble the necessary experts, teams and resources to make it happen. We identify the process and needs that are unique to making your project a success.
From real estate development services, trails and parks to campus designs to comprehensive city, downtown and neighborhood plans, Place Associates is equipped to ensure your development project is a success.
Prior to founding Place Associates, Ben Wieseman served for over seven years as Director of Catalytic Development for REV Birmingham, managing their $3 billion portfolio of physical spaces of commercial and office spaces, with over 25 retail and office tenants. Responsible for building management, leasing, and collections. In addition, Ben helped REV to acquire, assemble and create development proformas for multiple future projects that could be valued over 100+ million in development costs. Prior to working for REV, Ben spent over 16 years working for design firms in both Alabama and Colorado.
Ben has a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky, and a master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Leadership Birmingham program. Ben Currently holds licenses and professional credentials as a Registered Landscape Architect in the State of Alabama, and as an American Institute of Certified Planners, with the American Planning Association. He serves on multiple boards and agencies throughout the state, is a member of the City of Hoover’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board for the City of Birmingham, is Vice President of Your Town Alabama, and is a board member and facilitator for Design Alabama.
In addition, Ben has been an adjunct faculty member for Auburn University over the past 15 years teaching both undergraduate design classes and graduate classes for the Master of Real Estate Development program and he continues to facilitate planning and designs sessions for a variety of clients and stakeholders such as Your Town Alabama, YLF of Birmingham and other non-profits and municipalities.