Dominique Berninger

Dominique Berninger (1898–1949) was a French-born American architect based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, United States, who practiced nationally in the mid twentieth century but particularly in Pennsylvania. He is best known for his design of the French Pavilion for the New York World's Fair of 1939. Together with Louis Kahn, he founded the short-lived Architectural Research Group (ARG) in Philadelphia. He was a partner in the firms of Carswell, Berninger & Bower (ca. 1933–1935), Berninger & Bower (1935-1945) and Berninger, Haag & d'Entremont

Early life and education Born May 31, 1898, in Schiltigheim,

With Louis Kahn, who was also an employee of Zantzinger, Borie & Medary, he formed the Architectural Research Group in Philadelphia "for the group study of Housing and Slum Clearance." and Harold Thorp Carswell (born 3/25/1886, died 1/1/1940) as Carswell, Berninger & Bower, renamed Berninger & Bower when Carswell left the firm in 1935.

The most expensive and important work of his career was The French pavilion on the Court of Peace at the 1939 New York World's Fair, which was the grand open space northeast of the Theme Center. It ran such a celebrated restaurant that after the fair closed and World War II ended, the restaurant remained in New York City – and soon established itself (as Le Pavilion) as one of the finest French dining establishments in the city. Henri Soulé moved from the French Pavilion at the fair to open Le Pavillon, taking Pierre Franey along as head chef.

At Berninger & Bower, Harold Haag worked as a draftsman and after the partnership dissolution in 1945, Berninger took Haag and Paul d'Entremont into partnership in 1946 as Berninger, Haag & d'Entremont. However, it seems that he left this firm the same year, which took the name of Haag & d'Entremont (practicing from the old offices of 445 Cedar Street, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046.)

Dominique Berninger died in late 1949 while undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

Works as Berninger & Bower 1939: New York World's Fair French Pavilion (client: French Government; cost: $1,500,000; demolished 1940) Academy of the New Church Elementary School, Bryn Athyn, PA. (cost $70,000) 0 1946: Academy of the New Church Elementary School and Dormitories, Bryn Athyn, PA. (cost $300,000) George Deming Residence, Philadelphia (cost $75,000) Dufur Hospital Addition, Ambler, for the Dufur Hospital, Inc. (cost $35,000)