Benno Janssen

In 1905, he returned to the United States to work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the architectural firm MacClure & Spahr.

He is best known for monumental buildings such as the Pittsburgh Athletic Association (1911), the Masonic Temple (1915 - now Alumni Hall of the University of Pittsburgh), William Penn Hotel (1916 and again in 1928), Mellon Institute (1937), the Longue Vue Club (1923), Rolling Rock Club and Stables (1928 - near Ligonier, Pennsylvania), the T.W.

The prevailing architectural motif of these Benno Janssen homes was a picturesquely irregular configuration of buildings rambling around a central courtyard.

Many of Janssen's buildings also boast museum-quality wrought-iron by noted Philadelphia artisan Samuel Yellin.

Janssen collaborated with Yellin for 25 years, resulting in gracious iron details in his most important projects.

The Pittsburgh Athletic Association (1911), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Alumni Hall (1915) at the University of Pittsburgh, formerly the Masonic Temple, went through a two-year, $16 million preservation and renovation effort that was completed in 2000
Mellon Institute (1937) is known for its monolithic columns, the largest such one-piece columns in the world