Internationally acclaimed Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei celebrates his 96th birthday today, April 26th. With a career that spanned six decades and several continents, Pei created some of the most iconic structures in the world such as the Pyramid entrance to the Louvre, Paris; Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong; Macao Science Center, Macau (In association with Pei Partnership Architects); National Gallery East Building, Washington, D.C.; and Raffles City, Singapore. He is also the oldest living Pritzker Prize winner, an award he received in 1983.
With a host of accomplishments to his name, Pei’s signature residential project is The Centurion, a luxury condominium in Midtown Manhattan. Designed in collaboration with his son Sandi, the residence is the only condominium he ever designed.
A highly sought-after building due to its understated elegance, incredible location and high quality materials, the exclusive condominium has only 48 residences, is more than 80 percent sold and is a true reflection I.M. Pei’s belief in creating elegant, graceful, timeless and tranquil structures. Of the few remaining apartments, the most special are the building’s triplex penthouse and residential/commercial duplex.
The triplex or “Mansion in the Sky” combines the building’s three penthouses into a single residence for nearly 9,500-square-feet of living space. Further evidencing the Pei connection, Pei’s son Sandi created preliminary designs for the penthouses in traditional, modern, defined-room and open-loft styles.
The residential/commercial duplex available is an ideal apartment for someone looking to “live above the store” and incorporate his/her business interests in his/her living space. The apartment has a tax deductible status and the purchaser can obtain a legal business address for the space at any time.
Other notable NYC projects by I.M. Pei include the Four Seasons Hotel; Republic of Korea Permanent Mission to the United Nations; Guggenheim Pavilion, the Mount Sinai Medical Center Expansion & Modernization; Bedford-Stuyvesant Superblock, Brooklyn; Kips Bay Plaza (with James Ingo Freed); Columbia University Comprehensive Master Plan; University Plaza, New York University (with James Ingo Freed); and National Airlines Terminal (renamed TWA Terminal Annex) JFK International Airport.
