Claim: Boris Iofan born in Odessa, his first major work was a Barvikha sanatorium and later completed the block-wide House on the Embankment
Evidence: Born in Odessa, Iofan graduated in 1916 from Italy's Regio Istituto Superiore di Belle Arti (now Accademia di Belle Arti) in Rome with a degree in architecture, initially following the Neoclassical tradition. His first major work was a Barvikha sanatorium for the Party elite (1929), which introduced him to clients at the top of the state. In 1931, Iofan completed the elite block-wide House on the Embankment (official name Дом Правительства, Government Building).