Nikolai Vasilyevich Nikitin (1907−1973) — an outstanding architect, engineer, Honored Builder of the RSFSR.
He was born on December 15, 1907 in Tobolsk, in the family of a philistine V.V. Nikitin, who was expelled from Chita for participating in revolutionary events. Nikolai Nikitin spent his childhood and adolescence in the cities of Ishim and Novonikolaevsk (Novosibirsk). Having left Tobolsk early, Kolya Nikitin liked to come here and stay with Anya’s grandmother, who lived on Ivanovskaya Street (now Grabovsky Street). After graduating from the Tomsk Technological Institute, Nikitin acquired the specialty of an architect and began independent activity.
Since 1934, Nikolai Vasilyevich lived and worked in Moscow. His work was especially evident in the post-war period, when there was an opportunity for reconstruction and renovation of the architectural appearance of the capital. Borrowing the achievements of domestic and world science and technology, Nikitin developed and implemented projects for the creation of high-rise buildings in Moscow, giving the capital a new look and emphasizing its state status.
He was the general designer of the complex of the Lomonosov Moscow State University on Vorobyovy Gory. The peak of his work was the unique Ostankino Tower, which at that time was the tallest structure in the world (537 meters in height). The tower houses a powerful domestic television and radio broadcasting center.
Together with sculptor E.V. Vuchetich Nikitin led the design and construction of the memorial complex on Mamayev Kurgan, opened for the 20th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The symbol of friendship of peoples is the Palace of Culture and Sports built by Nikitin in Warsaw.
The creative path of N.V. Nikitin was awarded the State Prize, orders and medals of the USSR and Poland. He is the author of more than 50 works on topical issues of construction. In 1965, Nikolai Vasilyevich Nikitin was awarded the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. One of the streets of Novy Tobolsk is named after the great architect.