John Virginius Bennes

Who was John Virginius Bennes?

John Virginius Bennes was an American architect in Baker City and Portland, Oregon. In Baker City he designed the Geiser Grand Hotel, several homes, and a now-demolished Elks building. He moved to Portland in 1907 and continued practicing there until 1942.

Bennes designed numerous projects in the Portland area, as well as in Corvallis, Prineville, and other areas of Oregon. He and his firms produced the designs for at least 20 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His work includes the design of more than 35 buildings on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, as well as plans for 12 other building additions and renovations. He also designed the administration building at Eastern Oregon University. In addition, Bennes and his firms planned several churches.

Bennes is also credited with design work on the Hollywood Theatre in Portland and the Liberty Theatre in Astoria. He worked with Herman Herzog on some of the theaters, and Albert Mercier and Lee Arden Thomas have also been credited with helping on some of them.