Memorial Gathering at CEPT University Honors the Life and Legacy of
Prof. Christopher Charles Benninger, (1942 - 2024).

On October 5th, CEPT University hosted a heartfelt memorial for the renowned architect, planner, and educator Prof. Christopher Charles Benninger, who passed away on October 2nd, 2024. Mr. Ramprasad Akkisetti, Managing Director, CCBA Designs, attended the gathering and shared a poignant tribute to the late visionary.

Prof. Christopher Charles Benninger was a distinguished architect, planner, teacher, and institution builder. Born in the USA, he earned a Master's in Architecture from Harvard University and a Master’s in City Planning from MIT. In the early seventies, he resigned his tenured professorship at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University to come to Ahmedabad and establish, along with Prof. B V Doshi and Prof. Y K Alagh, the School of Planning at CEPT.
In 1976, he moved to Pune and founded the Centre for Development Studies and Activities (CDSA). In 1995, he set up Christopher Charles Benninger Architects (CCBA).
His architectural practice has produced exemplary projects, ranging from institutional campuses and corporate offices to national government buildings across India as well as in Bhutan, China, and Africa. For over five decades, Christopher tirelessly worked for the betterment of Indian urban planning and architecture.

Over all these years, Christopher Benninger continued to nurture and contribute to CEPT University. Since 2015, he served as a member of the Board of Management of the University. In January 2024, Christopher Benninger was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in Architecture from CEPT University.
His book, ‘Letters to A Young Architect’, now in its sixth edition, has been translated into Gujarati, Bangla, and Chinese. His work is well documented in a monograph titled ‘Christopher Benninger: Architecture for a Modern India’.
CEPT University is indebted to him for helping establish its School of Planning and for nurturing the university through his contributions as a teacher, lecturer, and member of its Board of Management. CEPT is grateful that he has agreed to donate his collection of books to the CEPT University library.

“Christopher Benninger was a leading light in the fields of Architecture and Planning in the country. We are deeply thankful to him for the role he has played in founding the School of Planning at CEPT. In his interactions with the Board of Management, he has been a voice of reason, supporting the cause of the professionals and the students. For me personally, he was a great source of guidance and support in reimagining CEPT. In his passing, we have lost a great friend, philosopher, and guide” said Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairman of CEPT University.
Barjor Mehta, President of CEPT University, who has worked closely with Christopher Benninger, said “Christopher was my mentor, advisor, and friend. An entire generation of planners and architects across India sought his insights and took inspiration from his professional work.”

He is remembered by, Prof. Dinesh Mehta and Prof. Meera Mehta, Center Heads and Principal Researchers, CWAS, CRDF, who were his students in the first batch of the School of Planning - “Christopher Benninger was our friend and our teacher. He changed our lives and brought a new meaning to teaching for us. He opened the world beyond academics and curriculum, and the confined realms of traditional planning. He showed us how to teach and how to learn for ourselves and our students later. He taught us that a good teacher explains, a better teacher demonstrates, and a great teacher inspires. He wanted all his students and colleagues to be ambitious, do well, and serve others while doing that. He inspired us to excel and to share the accolades with everyone. Christopher will be in our hearts and memory, his gentle smile prodding us to go on, to keep learning, and to keep sharing.” Read More on: CEPT University News
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