Innumerable buildings and iconic structures can be credited to the American-Indian architect, Professor Christopher Charles Benninger, the recipient of the John Michael Kohler Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016: The Indian Institute of Management Kolkata, College of Engineering in Pune, YMCA International Camp Nilshi, New towns in Bhutan and Suzlon One Earth Global Headquarters Pune to name a few. A figure of excellence and a celebrated planner, he has lectured in many countries on varied topics surrounding planning and architecture and his firm has received 35 awards and citations to date. On being conferred with this honour, he says,“In many ways John Michael Kohler’s life mirrors mine. He was born in Vienna about a century before me. He migrated from an evolved urban culture to a new frontier, the US; I also moved to India. During the 20th century, he was set to make unique contributions in the country. By the 21st century, I too was prepared to make a difference to this emerging economy.”