I. M. Pei

Born in 1917 in Guangzhou, China, I. M. Pei is a renowned Modernist architect known for his striking designs that defy easy categorization. After working for a time as a developer's architect, he launched his own firm, winning his first large-scale commission with the John F. Kennedy Library in 1964. He has since designed numerous iconic buildings, including more than a dozen museums such as the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and his glass pyramid entrance pavilion at the Louvre Museum in Paris. He was awarded the 1983 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the profession's highest accolade, as well as many other honors. Updated 2007