Nikolai Nikitin
Nikolay Vasilyevich Nikitin (; 15 December 1907 – 3 March 1973) was a structural designer and construction engineer of the Soviet Union, best known for his monumental structures. Biography. Nikolay was born in Tobolsk, Russian Empire to the family of a typographical engineer who later worked as a judicial clerk. When Nikolay was 17 a snake bite left him with a permanent foot injury. In 1930, Nikolay graduated from the Tomsk Technological Institute with training in construction. In 1932, he designed the train station of Novosibirsk. By 1937, he was living and working in Moscow. He turned his attention to  calculations for the foundation of the monumental Palace of Soviets which was to be constructed at the site of the demolished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. In 1957, he was appointed chief designer of Mosproekt-2 - Institute for the Planning of Housing and Civil Engineering Construction in the City of Moscow. Nikolay died on 3 March 1973 and is buried in Novodevichy Cemetery.