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Benno Janssen | |
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 Janssen fromWestern Pennsylvanians, 1923 | |
| Born | (1874-03-12)March 12, 1874 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | October 14, 1964(1964-10-14) (aged 90) |
| Education | University of Kansas Massachusetts Institute of Technology École des Beaux-Arts |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Employer(s) | Janssen & Abbott Janssen & Cocken |
| Known for | Pittsburgh Athletic Association (1911) Pittsburgh Masonic Temple (1915 - now Alumni Hall of theUniversity of Pittsburgh) William Penn Hotel (1916 and again in 1928) Elm Court (1929)Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School (1931) Mellon Institute (1937) |
| Spouse | Edith Patton |
| Children | Mary Patton Janssen, Benno Janssen Jr., and Alexander Patton Janssen |
| Parent(s) | Oscar Janssen and Thekla Susenbeth |
Benno Janssen (March 12, 1874 – October 14, 1964) was an American architect.
Benno Janssen was born inSt. Louis, Missouri, the son of Oscar Janssen and Thekla Susenbeth. Janssen studied at theUniversity of Kansas. In 1899, he began working in architecture inBoston, Massachusetts. He also continued his studies at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1902, Janssen headed for Paris, France, and further studied at theÉcole des Beaux-Arts. In 1905, he returned to the United States to work inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the architectural firmMacClure & Spahr. Janssen left that firm, along withFranklin Abbott, to form their own partnership in 1906,Janssen & Abbott, which remained active until Abbott's retirement in 1918. Janssen next joined withWilliam York Cocken in 1922, and together they started the architectural firmJanssen & Cocken.
He is best known for monumental buildings such as thePittsburgh Athletic Association (1911), theMasonic Temple (1915 - now Alumni Hall of theUniversity of Pittsburgh),William Penn Hotel (1916 and again in 1928),Mellon Institute (1937), theLongue Vue Club (1923),Rolling Rock Club and Stables (1928 - nearLigonier, Pennsylvania), the T.W. Phillips Gas & Oil Company (Butler, Pennsylvania), the Keystone Athletic Club (1929 - now Lawrence Hall ofPoint Park University), and theWashington Crossing Bridge (Pittsburgh), also called the 40th Street Bridge (1924).
Janssen also designed many fine residences, including the country estate of George Calvert (1912); the Lee L. Chandler House (1924) in Shadyside;Elm Court, the estate of B.D. Phillips inButler, Pennsylvania (1929); as well asFox Chapel's Frank B. Ingersoll House (1931) andLa Tourelle, theEdgar J. Kaufmann house (1923). Janssen received many Kaufmann commissions over the years.
The prevailing architectural motif of these Benno Janssen homes was a picturesquely irregular configuration of buildings rambling around a central courtyard. Other features these homes shared include: complex slate roofs with many gables, large groups of rectangular windows, rich oriel and bay windows, interesting chimney treatments, and intricately carved stone detailing.
Many of Janssen's buildings also boast museum-quality wrought-iron by notedPhiladelphia artisanSamuel Yellin. Janssen collaborated with Yellin for 25 years, resulting in gracious iron details in his most important projects.
Benno Janssen married Edith Patton, the daughter of Central Pennsylvania businessman and future State Senator Alexander Ennis Patton and Mary Boynton Dill, on December 28, 1889, inCurwensville, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The Janssens were the parents of Mary Patton Janssen, Benno Janssen Jr., and Alexander Patton Janssen.
Janssen retired in 1939 and died inCharlottesville, Virginia, on October 14, 1964.
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