MIT Museum Acquires Extensive Archive of Pritzker Prize-Winning Architect I. M. Pei

The MIT Museum has announced the acquisition of the complete archive of I. M. Pei, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect and an alumnus of MIT, graduating in 1940. This extensive collection encompasses materials from Pei’s illustrious 64-year career, marking a significant homecoming for the architect’s legacy to the institution where he began his architectural studies in the United States.

Landmark Donation

Michael John Gorman, director of the MIT Museum, expressed deep gratitude to Pei Cobb Freed & Partners for entrusting the archive to MIT. “This landmark donation marks the homecoming of I. M. Pei to MIT,” Gorman stated. “We are deeply grateful to Pei Cobb Freed & Partners for entrusting the Pei archive to MIT, bringing Pei’s archive ‘home’ to MIT.” The arrival of the archive is seen as a pivotal moment for the museum’s Architecture Collection, aligning with its mission to document and convey the evolution of architectural education and practice.

Rich Archival Contents

The Pei archive is a substantial collection, featuring over 1,500 rolls of architectural drawings, 50 architectural models, and approximately 1,000 linear feet of manuscripts. These documents offer a detailed record of exchanges between Pei and his contemporaries, providing invaluable insights into his design process and the broader architectural discourse of his time.

Unprecedented Access to Key Projects

For the first time, the public will gain access to drawings for several of Pei’s most significant projects. These include the modernization of the Louvre in Paris, four key buildings on the MIT campus, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, among others. This accessibility is expected to greatly benefit researchers, students, and architecture enthusiasts.

A Fitting Home for a Cherished Legacy

Hashim Sarkis, dean of the MIT School of Architecture & Planning, emphasized MIT’s role as the ideal custodian for this architectural treasure trove. He recalled conversations with Pei’s partner, the late architect Henry Cobb, who highlighted the profound importance of MIT in Pei’s life and career. “Pei came to the United States from China to study architecture and found at MIT a place where he could belong,” Sarkis noted. “It was also at MIT that he received one of his first major nonresidential commissions—the Cecil and Ida Green Building for Earth Sciences (1962)—beginning a long relationship with the Institute and its campus.” Sarkis added, “There is something deeply meaningful about seeing this archive come to MIT, where so much of that journey began. It will become a living resource for our students, offering direct access to the drawings, models, and ideas of an architect whose work continues to shape the way we think about cities, institutions, and the public realm.”

Future Accessibility

The extensive process of cataloging and processing the drawings and archives is anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2028, at which point the materials will be more widely accessible for study and exhibition.

Key facts

This acquisition is of significant interest to the architecture community as it provides unparalleled access to the working documents of one of the 20th century’s most influential architects. The materials will serve as a vital resource for understanding Pei’s design philosophy, his contributions to modern architecture, and the historical context of his notable projects, directly benefiting students and scholars at MIT and beyond.

Source: The Architect’s Newspaper, https://www.archpaper.com/2026/06/mit-museum-archive-i-m-pei/