This quiz looks at the life and work of I. M. Pei, a true giant of modern architecture. He reshaped global cityscapes with his clean geometric lines and innovative structures.
You will see questions about his design philosophy, his famous glass creations, and the materials he favored. Some questions are simple, while others focus on lesser-known details of his career.
Afterward, visit our pages on modern architects, find classic buildings, or browse trivia about museums and galleries.
Which of these structures was designed by I. M. Pei?
Heydar Aliyev Center
Heydar Aliyev Center
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Louvre Pyramid
Louvre Pyramid
The Gherkin
The Gherkin
In which Chinese city was I. M. Pei born?
Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou
Beijing
Beijing
Shanghai
Shanghai
Where did I. M. Pei complete his graduate studies in architecture?
Graduate School of Design at Harvard
Graduate School of Design at Harvard
Columbia University
Columbia University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yale School of Architecture
Yale School of Architecture
Which design philosophy did I. M. Pei primarily emphasize in his architectural approach?
Geometric abstraction
Geometric abstraction
Brutalist concrete stamping
Brutalist concrete stamping
Art Nouveau styling
Art Nouveau styling
Classical ornamentation
Classical ornamentation
Which of these was the first museum designed by I. M. Pei?
East Building of the National Gallery of Art
East Building of the National Gallery of Art
Louvre Pyramid
Louvre Pyramid
Everson Museum of Art
Everson Museum of Art
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Which material, known for its sculptural possibilities, was a hallmark of I. M. Pei’s structural work?
Glass
Glass
Steel
Steel
Concrete
Concrete
Stone
Stone
The completion of the Louvre Pyramid modernization project was meant to coincide with which major historical event?
France’s entry into the European Union
France’s entry into the European Union
Bicentennial of the French Revolution
Bicentennial of the French Revolution
1889 Exposition Universelle
1889 Exposition Universelle
Opening of the Musée d’Orsay
Opening of the Musée d’Orsay
The Louvre Pyramid structure consists of a large main pyramid and how many smaller pyramids surrounding it?
Two
Two
Five
Five
Three
Three
Four
Four
Which memorial museum project did I. M. Pei work on for over a decade following the assassination of the lead figure?
Mesa Laboratory at NCAR
Mesa Laboratory at NCAR
Dallas City Hall
Dallas City Hall
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
I. M. Pei famously stated that he did not want the Louvre Pyramid to reflect which historic structure?
The Parthenon
The Parthenon
The Washington Monument
The Washington Monument
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Pantheon
The Pantheon
In 1983, I. M. Pei won which prestigious international architecture award?
Pritzker Architecture Prize
Pritzker Architecture Prize
RIBA Royal Gold Medal
RIBA Royal Gold Medal
Venice Biennale Golden Lion
Venice Biennale Golden Lion
AIA Gold Medal
AIA Gold Medal
What defines the technological innovation of the Louvre Pyramid’s glass facade?
Art-Deco limestone panels
Art-Deco limestone panels
Cantilevered cast-in-place concrete decks
Cantilevered cast-in-place concrete decks
Travertine and light-well atriums
Travertine and light-well atriums
Glass and steel spider-web framing
Glass and steel spider-web framing
Which statement accurately describes the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong?
It was a temple commissioned by the Japanese government.
It was a temple commissioned by the Japanese government.
It was a memorial project dedicated to the victims of war.
It was a memorial project dedicated to the victims of war.
It was a residential complex designed for government officials.
It was a residential complex designed for government officials.
It was a commercial skyscraper built for a state-owned bank.
It was a commercial skyscraper built for a state-owned bank.
Pei’s design for the East Building of the National Gallery of Art was famously dictated by which geometric shape?
A triangle
A triangle
A hexagon
A hexagon
A circle
A circle
A square
A square
Under which modernist pioneer did I. M. Pei study at the Harvard Graduate School of Design?
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Which project represented I. M. Pei’s return to his ancestral roots in China in 2006?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland
The Four Seasons Hotel, New York
The Four Seasons Hotel, New York
The Suzhou Museum, China
The Suzhou Museum, China
The Macao Science Center, China
The Macao Science Center, China
What is the primary purpose of the NCAR Mesa Laboratory, located in Boulder, Colorado?
A library dedicated to local history.
A library dedicated to local history.
A transit hub for travelers.
A transit hub for travelers.
A specialized research facility for atmospheric study.
A specialized research facility for atmospheric study.
A concert hall for chamber music.
A concert hall for chamber music.
Which museum, designed by Pei, features a dramatic glass tower and a cantilevered exhibit space over a lake?
The Four Seasons Hotel, New York City
The Four Seasons Hotel, New York City
The Morten H. Meyerson Symphony Center
The Morten H. Meyerson Symphony Center
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Fragrant Hill Hotel, Beijing
The Fragrant Hill Hotel, Beijing
I. M. Pei’s most famous glass structure serves as the primary entrance to which institution?
The Musée d’Orsay, Paris
The Musée d’Orsay, Paris
The Centre Pompidou, Paris
The Centre Pompidou, Paris
The Grand Palais, Paris
The Grand Palais, Paris
The Louvre, Paris
The Louvre, Paris
During which decade did I. M. Pei complete the design and construction of the Louvre Pyramid?
1980s
1980s
1990s
1990s
1970s
1970s
1960s
1960s
What is unique about the glass panels used in the construction of the Louvre Pyramid?
They are made of low-iron, clear glass to preserve transparency.
They are made of low-iron, clear glass to preserve transparency.
They are curved to distribute weight efficiently.
They are curved to distribute weight efficiently.
They are entirely opaque to protect artwork.
They are entirely opaque to protect artwork.
They are tinted blue to match the French sky.
They are tinted blue to match the French sky.
What was the professional background of I. M. Pei’s family in his hometown of Suzhou?
His father was a wealthy real estate developer.
His father was a wealthy real estate developer.
His family was highly influential in the banking sector in Suzhou.
His family was highly influential in the banking sector in Suzhou.
He started as a professional painter.
He started as a professional painter.
He was a self-taught architect with no formal education.
He was a self-taught architect with no formal education.
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