Prominent Architect Chien Chung ‘Didi’ Pei to visit AUK
Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – October 1st, 2018- The American University of Kurdistan is proud to announce the visit of famous architect Chien Chung Pei (Didi), son of world renowned architect I.M. Pei, to AUK.
Pei will visit the American University of Kurdistan in Duhok on the 2nd of October, to meet with the students of Architecture Engineering and Interior Design departments, followed by a reception.
“We are very excited to have this world-renowned architect visit Duhok and the American University. I have known Didi and his father, I.M. Pei for over thirty years, and it is a great honor to host him here in Kurdistan.” Said President John Menzies of the American University of Kurdistan. “Didi Pei will meet with AUK and local officials to discuss future projects at the university as we evaluate how to move forward in best serving the people of Kurdistan.” He added.
Chien Chung (Didi) Pei earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Harvard College in 1968 and graduated in 1972 from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design with a Master’s Degree in Architecture. As the middle son of I.M. Pei, he was taught the vision, commitment and professional standards essential to the creation of significant and lasting architecture during his formative years.
Along with his younger brother Li Chung (Sandi), Didi Pei spent the first 20 years of his professional career contributing to many of I.M. Pei’s most celebrated projects, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Grand Louvre in Paris. He was also Partner-in-Charge of the Museum of Islamic Art Park in Doha, Qatar, which opened to the public in 2012.
Didi Pei has an enduring presence in the health care domain. He has completed two projects at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Martha Stewart Center for Living. He was awarded the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor, in recognition of his contribution in leading the PPA team that prepared the Master Plan for the UCLA South Campus, as he was also Partner-in-Charge of the one million-square-foot Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center that completely replaced the existing hospital badly damaged by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.