I. M. Pei - Master of Modern Architecture, Timeline and Family
I. M. Pei's Personal Details
I.M
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 26, 1917 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, University Of Pennsylvania, Architects, Master of Modern Architecture |
| Spouses | Eileen Loo |
| Known as | Ieoh Ming Pei |
| Childrens | Chien Chung Pei, Li Chung Pei, Liane Pei |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
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| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Suzhou, China |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Tsuyee Pei |
| Mother | Lien Kwun |
| Net Worth | $20 Million as of April 22,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Suzhou, China |
| Famous as | Master of Modern Architecture |
I. M. Pei's photo
Who is I. M. Pei?
I.M. Pei is a Chinese-born American architect who is popularly known as the master of modern architecture. Providing modernist, cubist designs to architecture along with glass work in the form of geometric shapes, he has designed some of the world’s most unique buildings. His dedication to his work has brought him worldwide acclaim and according to his biographer, he has won “every award of any consequence in his art.” He has headed projects as large as the JFK Library, Dallas City Hall, the Louvre, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His fascinating creations have been showcased around the world in some of the most famous cities including Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, Paris, Dallas, and New York. He is a unique architect in the sense that he has made creations as beautiful and extravagant as the Louvre, and at the same time also headed projects involving development of low-income housing. In addition to his majorly successful career, he has also been a dedicated family man. This prolific architect continues to remain dedicated to his work at the age of 97. Two of his sons have taken over Pei’s architecture firm while he continues to work on individual projects.
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Childhood & Early Life
I. M. Pei was born on April 26, 1917 in Suzhou, China, to Tsuyee Pei and Lien Kwun. His father was a prmonent banker. Pei lost his mother to cancer, when he was thirteen.
He came to the United States at the young age of 17. His reason for immigrating was to receive an American education focusing on Architecture.
He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from MIT in 1940. Originally, he began his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, but he believed their curriculum was lacking in his area of interest, structural engineering.
In 1946, he was awarded his Masters in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Once he got his degree, he was appointed assistant professor.
Career
While still enrolled in Harvard, his education was interrupted in 1943 when he served on the National Defense Research Committee. During WWII, this committee was set to conduct research on the devices of warfare.
From 1945 to 1948, he got his architectural career started by teaching as an assistant professor at Harvard. Here, he befriended two students with whom he was able to design several low-cost houses, winning recognition in the Arts and Architecture magazine.
In 1948, he accepted the prestigious position of Director of Architecture at Webb & Knapp, a real estate company. While with the company, he was able to produce his first successful project, when he designed a two-story corporate building for Gulf Oil in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1949.
During his stint with Webb & Knapp, he designed Mile High Center in Colorado and a united urban area for Washington, D.C., namely, L'Enfant Plaza.
In 1955, he decided to break free and established his own architectural firm called I.M. Pei & Associates.
His own firm designed some prominent building across the globe from Taiwan to Colorado. These include: the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library in Boston, the Grand Louvre pyramid in Paris, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong which stands over 72 stories high.
He retired from his firm in 1990, but continues to design buildings. Though he is now 97 years old, he is still actively involved in his work.
Major Works
After the passing of President John F. Kennedy, he worked closely with Jacqueline Kennedy on building the nine-story glass and concrete presidential library. It was completed in 1979 and launched his global career forward. Pei himself feels this building was “the most important commission” in his life.
The most iconic and well known representation of Pei’s work is the famous entrance to Paris’s Louvre museum. The large glass pyramid was completed in 1989 as a modern view of history and architecture.
Awards & Achievements
In 1979, he was awarded the Gold Medal for Architecture of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The same year he won the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects
In 1983, he was awarded the most prestigious, Nobel award of architecture, the Pritzker Prize.
On July 4, 1986, President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Liberty upon Pei.
In 1993, President George H.W. Bush awarded him with the Medal Freedom.
In 2003, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1942, he married fellow architect Eileen Loo and together they went on to have children Chien Chung Pei, Li Chung Pei, T’ing Chung, and Liane Pei. His wife died in June 2014.
During the mid 1970s, plates of glass fell out of his John Hancock Tower in Boston, and his reputation was questioned. He took the criticism in stride and went on to develop even more extensive glass buildings such as his Allied Bank Tower in Dallas, the Louvre Museum, and the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Ohio.
According to the Pritzker Architecture committee, his strengths lie in his ability to “draw together disparate people and disciplines to create a harmonious environment.”
Net Worth
According to the ‘Money’ magazine, Pei’s earnings in 2014 were an estimated $82 million. His estimated net worth is an astonishing $245 million due to his smart stock investments, property holdings, restaurants, a football team, top-selling perfume, fashion line, and his own brand of Vodka.
Trivia
He used his Pritzker Prize money to create and fund a scholarship for Chinese students to enable them to come to the United States to study architecture.
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I. M. Pei biography timelines
- // 26th Apr 1917I. M. Pei was born on April 26, 1917 in Suzhou, China, to Tsuyee Pei and Lien Kwun. His father was a prmonent banker. Pei lost his mother to cancer, when he was thirteen.
- // 1940He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from MIT in 1940. Originally, he began his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, but he believed their curriculum was lacking in his area of interest, structural engineering.
- // 1942 To 2014In 1942, he married fellow architect Eileen Loo and together they went on to have children Chien Chung Pei, Li Chung Pei, T’ing Chung, and Liane Pei. His wife died in June 2014.
- // 1943While still enrolled in Harvard, his education was interrupted in 1943 when he served on the National Defense Research Committee. During WWII, this committee was set to conduct research on the devices of warfare.
- // 1945 To 1948From 1945 to 1948, he got his architectural career started by teaching as an assistant professor at Harvard. Here, he befriended two students with whom he was able to design several low-cost houses, winning recognition in the Arts and Architecture magazine.
- // 1946In 1946, he was awarded his Masters in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Once he got his degree, he was appointed assistant professor.
- // 1948 To 1949In 1948, he accepted the prestigious position of Director of Architecture at Webb & Knapp, a real estate company. While with the company, he was able to produce his first successful project, when he designed a two-story corporate building for Gulf Oil in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1949.
- // 1955In 1955, he decided to break free and established his own architectural firm called I.M. Pei & Associates.
- // 1979After the passing of President John F. Kennedy, he worked closely with Jacqueline Kennedy on building the nine-story glass and concrete presidential library. It was completed in 1979 and launched his global career forward. Pei himself feels this building was “the most important commission” in his life.
- // 1979In 1979, he was awarded the Gold Medal for Architecture of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The same year he won the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects
- // 1983In 1983, he was awarded the most prestigious, Nobel award of architecture, the Pritzker Prize.
- // 1986On July 4, 1986, President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Liberty upon Pei.
- // 1989The most iconic and well known representation of Pei’s work is the famous entrance to Paris’s Louvre museum. The large glass pyramid was completed in 1989 as a modern view of history and architecture.
- // 1990He retired from his firm in 1990, but continues to design buildings. Though he is now 97 years old, he is still actively involved in his work.
- // 1993In 1993, President George H.W. Bush awarded him with the Medal Freedom.
- // 2003In 2003, he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
- // 2014According to the ‘Money’ magazine, Pei’s earnings in 2014 were an estimated $82 million. His estimated net worth is an astonishing $245 million due to his smart stock investments, property holdings, restaurants, a football team, top-selling perfume, fashion line, and his own brand of Vodka.
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I. M. Pei's FAQ
What is I. M. Pei birthday?
I. M. Pei was born at 1917-04-26
Where is I. M. Pei's birth place?
I. M. Pei was born in Suzhou, China
What is I. M. Pei nationalities?
I. M. Pei's nationalities is American
Who is I. M. Pei spouses?
I. M. Pei's spouses is Eileen Loo
Who is I. M. Pei childrens?
I. M. Pei's childrens is Chien Chung Pei, Li Chung Pei, Liane Pei
What was I. M. Pei universities?
I. M. Pei studied at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT),University Of Pennsylvania, St. Paul's College, Hong Kong, 1940 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, 1946 - Harvard Graduate School of Design
What was I. M. Pei notable alumnis?
I. M. Pei's notable alumnis is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT), University Of Pennsylvania
Which company or organization was founded by I. M. Pei?
I. M. Pei was the founder/co-founder of I.M. Pei and Associates, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Who is I. M. Pei's father?
I. M. Pei's father is Tsuyee Pei
Who is I. M. Pei's mother?
I. M. Pei's mother is Lien Kwun
What is I. M. Pei's sun sign?
I. M. Pei is Taurus
How famous is I. M. Pei?
I. M. Pei is famouse as Master of Modern Architecture