John Virginius Bennes

John Virginius Bennes (August 23, 1867 – November 29, 1943) was an American architect in Baker City and Portland, Oregon. In Baker City he did an extensive redesign of the Geiser Grand Hotel, designed 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 (NRHP). 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.

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

Bennes was born in Peru, Illinois on August 23, 1867. He moved from Chicago to Baker City circa 1900. While in Baker City, he redesigned the Geiser Grand Hotel, and designed the Elks Building and several residences before moving to Portland in 1906 and partnering with Eric W. Hendricks and Willard F. Tobey. Lewis Irvine Thompson also joined the firm. Bennes practiced on his own from 1914 to 1926. Then he partnered with Harry A. Herzog until 1931 and the onset of the Great Depression, when he returned to solo practice.

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