The fact that I.M. Pei, who passed away at 102 years old on May 16, lived long enough to see some of his notable buildings reach their own age milestones goes to show how timeless his designs are. Even if some of his buildings were first met with controversy, his buildings and his legacy have been permanently woven into the cultural fabric of cities across the world. Below, you can revisit some of Archinect's previous news and feature highlights that celebrate Pei's illustrious career.

"The Element of Time": Celebrating a Century of I.M. Pei

Pei turned 100 years old on April 26, 2017. In this feature, his former colleagues, Sir Norman Foster, and even the architect himself give remembrances, anecdotes, and a celebration of the genius of one of the masters of architecture. “He’s always looking at things in between, and that’s why it’s so hard to put him into a category. He’s not an academic or a conceptualist or a pragmatist, because he’s all of that, all at once...it’s his way with people,” said former colleague and Fragrant Hill designer Calvin Tsao.

For its 30th birthday, Artist JR creates a large-scale optical illusion at the Louvre Pyramid

For the Louvre Pyramid's 30th birthday, the Paris Museum enlisted French street artist JR who, three years ago, covered the pyramid in a giant trompe l’oeil that made it disappear behind a giant black-and-white photo. As a continuation of that piece, JR's latest work created the optical illusion that the glass pyramid was rising from a rock quarry.

I.M. Pei's first museum scheme, the Everson in Syracuse, turns 50

October 2018 marked the 50th birthday of the Everson, which was Pei's first museum design. Opening in 1968 to rave reviews, the 60,000 square-foot museum was a success thanks to Pei's meticulous attention to detail and the iconic circular staircase that he designed.

AIA honors I.M. Pei's Grand Louvre with 2017 Twenty-Five Year Award

The AIA Twenty-Five Year Award distinguishes a building that has gracefully stood the test of time over the last 25-35 years. First denounced as a modernist insult to the historic Grand Palais, the 71-foot-tall Louvre Pyramid has become as treasured as the artwork it houses. One award juror noted the Grand Louvre as “an example of the prowess and legacy of I.M. Pei”.

The reopening of I.M. Pei's National Gallery of Art East Building

After a three-year, $69 million renovation, the Pei-designed East Building of the National Gallery of Art reopened to the public in September 2016. Architectural changes to the interior included an additional 12,250 square-feet of exhibition space (without expanding the building's footprint), the new Roof Terrace, two sky-lit, interior tower galleries, and more. When Gallery officials consulted with Pei shortly before the renovations started, he recommended his longtime associate Perry Y. Chin, who prepared a concept design.

I.M. Pei named as 2014 recipient of the UIA Gold Medal

In addition to receiving top architecture accolades like the Pritzker Prize, and the Gold Medals for the AIA and RIBA, Pei was named the 2014 recipient of the International Union of Architects (UIA) Gold Medal.

The Words, Projects, Images and Thoughts of I.M. Pei

If you haven't checked it out yet, you can watch (or rewatch) a selection of Pei's talks and interviews throughout his career in the latest installment of Archinect's Soapbox series.