Benny started his career in 1984 and received the basic lessons in architecture under the tutelage of Laurie Baker. The Charles Wallace India Trust Award that he received in 1986 took him to the University of York, UK, to do an MA in Conservation Studies. On return he worked in Kerala till 1991 doing projects on cost effective techniques, and even returned to his village to design furniture. He started practicing architecture again in 1993 during which period he designed many residences. 1994 was a landmark year when after the earthquake in Lattur he was commissioned by the Malayala Manorama to design the rebuilding of Banegaon village.

1996 brought him to Chennai as the designer for the Kerala buildings and the public buildings in Dakshinachitra on the East Coast Road to Mahabalipuram. The extraordinary project of transplantation of old buildings to sites juxtaposing new ones was a challenge that spurred him on to set up an office in Chennai, and this was the opportunity that helped him build his repertory of projects and live out the philosophy of his work.

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