1713-1780

French architect best known as the designer of the church of Ste. Geneviève in Paris, which is more commonly known as the Panthéon. Trained in Rome (1734-38), Soufflot was known for his interest in Gothic architecture and for designs that incorporated Greek forms, such as his Greek Cross plan with a large dome, Corinthian columns, and portico on his 1757 plan for St. Geneviève, for which he also used a unique buried framework of iron bars, a precursor to reinforced concrete.