During 1920–30, Iakov Chernikhov was engaged in design and construction work in Leningrad, gaining unique experience in industrial and civil architecture. He believed that "the tremendous diversity of industrial architecture creates the most favorable conditions for an architect's creative work". Of all projects completed under his direction (mostly industrial), over 60 were personally designed by him.


In the early 1930s, Chernikhov developed projects for key industrialization facilities — metalworking plants, including:

• Leningrad plants "Znamya Truda" and "Krasny Gvozdilschik" (Steel Wire and Cable workshops, 1928–30);
• Beloretsk Metallurgical Plant (Bashkiria);
• Ural Aluminum Plant (preliminary design).

"Industrial structures, constrained by specific technological processes, have developed their own architectonics, details and 'industrial beauty'", Chernikhov noted.


The Cable Workshop with water tower for "Krasny Gvozdilschik" (1929–1931) holds special significance — one of the few surviving examples of Leningrad constructivism. Notably, this was the first site Zaha Hadid visited in Petersburg after receiving the Pritzker Prize at the Hermitage — her work being deeply influenced by Russian avant-garde.


Major chemical industry projects included:

• Leningrad sulfuric acid plant "Krasny Khimik" (largest in USSR);
• Perm Chromate Plant;
• Nevsky Chemical Combine;
• Chlorine and Bone Processing Plants in Leningrad.

Architect Igor Fomin recalled: "When Chernikhov worked at Giprokhim, I occasionally met him there. The projects were quite utilitarian, but each was accompanied by numerous purely fantasy sketches. It seemed these practical tasks were just themes for melodies he 'composed'".


As head of Lenproject's architectural studio, Chernikhov contributed to:

• residential district designs per Leningrad's master plan;
• research institutes and schools projects;
• reconstruction of the Main Building of Leningrad Railway Engineers Institute;
• mechanical and Chemical Laboratories designs;
• Institute Library Building design.

"Economic constraints don't frighten an architect who can skillfully develop his idea, achieving harmonious unity for the whole structure and its details. Today, beauty is defined not by material cost or rarity, but by compositional and structural logic, expressiveness, consistency and completeness", Chernikhov wrote.