Cesar Pelli, Designer of Iconic Buildings Around the World, Dies at 92

Pelli designed the modest renovations of the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, in the mid-80's, placing a three-tiered stack of brass blocks on top to symbolize the Brass City, and perhaps the art, industry, and history that were the building blocks of the museum and the city. This design was later dismissed by a member of the design committee at the time as a random act of block stacking during discussions, much like children piling up blocks. To my eye, however, there are similarities to the top of Pelli's famous Malaysian twin-towers, not surprising for an architect who often highlighted form. The Mattatuck is being redone and the blocks removed, like other changing Pelli projects described in the article. Hopefully, images of Pelli's design for the Mattatuck (and the stacked brass blocks) will be retained in Pelli archives and histories.

Unbelievable what I read here: "Mr. Pelli never apologized for designing buildings which satisfied, rather than challenged, their owners" Should have APOLOGIZED if he wanted to be approved by the ideologists of the NYT !!!! Apparently delivering results which are of satisfaction for the client, is something negative. Shame on you NYT, for being so desrepectful !

I was working as a fellow at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, when the Pelli building opened, in 1984. At the building's opening party, when Mr. Pelli was standing alone in the new galleries for photographs, I had a chance to speak briefly with him. I approached and congratulated the architect on the building. In that short encounter, he was personable, warm, and humble, and seemed in no hurry to brush me off. What a great man!

Thank you for this story of a fascinating life.

This guy's legend will only increase. The Petronas project was a cultural, aesthetic and technological tour de force, and to see it in the context of his long career only sharpens its contrast with what so many of the other starchitects were doing in the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Yeah, glass curtain walls are not sustainable, but in the right hands, for a few decades, there was glory.

I did a research on Mr. Pelli for a small essay I wrote for the class Prof. Paul Goldberger taught at The New School. But this article made me realize it was not enough. It was great that I was able to review Mr. Pelli's life and achievements through the loving and illuminating memoir co-authored by Prof. Goldberger. Thank you, New York Times!

What a lovely remembrance. I felt privileged to work on a film (Entrapment, with Sean Connery & Catherine Zeta-Jones) inside the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The sky bridge stunt work was done at Pinewood Studios outside London, but we spent a couple of weeks in KL; the Towers were stunning, we did interior shots there. I believe it was barely open at the time, in Sept of 1998. All these years & I never realized the Pacific Design Center & Petronas were the same architect! who sounds like he was a truly lovely human being. Thank you for this piece.

What an honor to have shaken the hands of this great architect from Tucumán who worked with Eero Saarinen.. Very humble and talented man. The Blue Whale and so many other gems. His winter garden floor is pristine and perfect. Calatrava’s Oculus floor is full of cracks and it is chipping everywhere. Thank you Mr.Pelli. May your soul rest in peace.

Pedes in terra, ad sidera visus. (With your feet on the ground and sight in the sky) This is the motto of Cesar Pelli’s original home town university, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. His professional and academic life exceeded his humble origins but, I believe, that it is these humble origins together with great opportunities, incredible dedication, genius and a true good spirit are what made this story of Argentine/American success such a wonderful example for generations to come. Celebrate America! Celebrate the life of one great architect! Celebrate the life of a good person! R.Sehringer

the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, known for its bright blue glass facade, is also known locally as the Blue Whale. It’s big anyway, but his US Bank tower in downtown LA is its elegant redemption.

We are so honored that New Orleans will host Mr. Pelli’s final project, the new airport terminal, to open this Fall. That all of Pelli’s work, it is simultaneously impressive and practical.

Although his New Haven home is only about five minutes from ours, my first introduction to the name Cesar Pelli was in Kuala Lumpur, where a wild-eyed young guy told me that he was going to base jump from Petronas Tower the next morning. New Haven is a small town in some ways, and I never heard anything but many nice words about Mr. Pelli. Perhaps the words below express one reason why: Mr. Pelli never apologized for designing buildings that satisfied their owners rather than challenging them. Architects, he wrote, “must produce what is needed of us. This is not a weakness in our discipline, but a source of strength.” I lived in Spain for a number of years, and with that hint, I'm sure that the name of another famous architect, one with zero apparent concern regarding owner satisfaction, will come to many minds. Also, I negotiate daily the gratuitous hazards of a home designed by a graduate of Yale School of Architecture to be handicapped-friendly and energy-efficient. If it were those things, it would be a loved home. Again from the article: "Mr. Pelli attributed his selection in part to (his being an) architect with strong practical skills." A desire to satisfy the client and strong practical skills: modest essentials in a profession that seems to constantly tempt the ego. Greatly appreciated.

In 1990, my evaluation panel selected Cesar Pelli to design the new terminal for what is now Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Working with our senior architect Dan Feil, he designed the 35-gate terminal which opened in July 1997. The building incorporated an art-in-architecture program that included floor medallions of terrazzo and glass art in the large window wall that provided a spectacular view of downtown Washington. He was a soft spoken man of great influence, actually listening to his clients and incorporating their ideas in his work. Evidence of his humility was evident on previous projects and was an important reason for his selection. We enjoyed working with him.

Another notable Pelli project: the Bank of America tower in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the time it wen' up, it was a strikingly forward-thinking monument for a southern city. Now that Charlotte is catching up with other large urban centers and skyscrapers are everywhere, it's still the best thing on the skyline. Condolences to Pelli's family.

I was fortunate to have had Mr. Pelli as a studio critic in graduate school at Yale. He was always a kind, respectful, and engaged teacher. He leaves a legacy of transformative buildings and architects around the world. Peace to you Cesar!

Me. Pelli, is a clear example that immigrants do contribute to create great things.

The Petronas twin towers are so icônic that until this day, almost 20 years since they are completed, they still look so amazing. Thanks for changing the skyline of KL and my home.

Oh my. An immigrant who spoke Spanish growing up and probably never spoke without a tinge of his place of birth. Just like me 55 years later, people every once in a while still ask me if I entered through Ellis Island. No, a PanAm 707 from Amsterdam landing at JFK. Years later ending up in top story corner office with a sweeping view of Ellis Island and the "rest" of the World. Not so long ago someone asked where I was from, Amsterdam. "How could you possibly leave Amsterdam" A long story. Kan ik je niet vertellen.

Cesar Pelli was a true gentleman.

In the age of Trump, a reminder of the quality of the Latin American contribution to North American culture and life.

So it all started with a young, poor hispanic immigrant coming to the USA, achieving success and contributing to the greatness of his adopted country. I hope some trumpists read this article and think twice before cheering for their leader’s inhuman, racist anti-immigration rhetoric.

You didn’t mention the performing arts center in Iowa City, a building I Just saw. Didn’t get to go in (Diana Ross concert was sold out) but at night the building is a bright marvel on the banks of the Iowa River.

Cesar was one of the kindest persons I've ever known. He was a true genius. Not only his stellar gifts, but his real gentlemanly ways set him apart from the crowd. We're so sad to hear of his passing. I was lucky to have called him a friend.

Surprisingly no mention of his flautist brother Koko.

The kid of one of Cesar’s project managers, I spent my earliest years running around the corridors of the New Haven office. He was the warmest soul — my parents told me that when he was in town, I’d charge straight into his office to hang out on his lap and mess with the fancy pens on his desk, which he indulged no matter what he was working on. He bought me a gorgeous set of 50 Cray-Pas for my sixth birthday and I think about him every time I smell oil pastels in an art store. Obviously the man was a genius, but he was also much, much beloved (especially by the kiddos), and the world is a little darker without him.

The Skybridge at Petronas also serves as the tuned mass damper for the 2 towers, which is how skyscrapers lessen their sway. From my vantage point, the shapes of his towers can be a little off, but the skins are always spot on. Taut and eye-catching. And as for SF, Cesar Pelli didn’t ruin the skyline. The 1970s ruined the skyline. San Francisco made poor urban planning choices one after the other for decades (including a freeway that blocked access to the waterfront!). And remember, the Transamerica Pyramid was equally despised but is now an SF icon. Salesforce is not my favorite tower, but it’s better than many of the horror shows that SF allowed. The Vegas monstrosity Marriott, the long wall of the Embarcadero Center, the assorted boxes that went up along Market St in the 70s, the numerous post-modern disasters. And it offers SF a 3-block-long urban park.

I've had the pleasure to visit a few of his works of art. His buildings are futuristic, sleek, and powerful; in many ways, symbols of the very tenants that occupy them. I immediately know a "Pelli" building when I see one. Rest in peace.

I am sorry for his loss, but Salesforce Tower is not a success, IMHO. The city really messed up the San Francisco skyline with that building. The scale is completely wrong. The city owned the land and wanted to maximize its proceeds, so it allowed a huge building to be constructed. Big long-term mistake that looks almost impossible to fix. It’s really too bad.

We have now lost 2 of the greatest architects in the world in the last 2 months: I.M. Pei, and now Cesar Pelli. From the mid-20th Century to the present, these 2 men were at the absolute pinnacle of the "best of the best", designing some of the greatest and most innovative structures. Mr. Pelli was 93 years old when he died, and Mr. Pei was 102. Mr. Pei's first well recognized American building(s) he designed was "Kips Bay" in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan, New York. It is a huge 2 building housing complex and sits on 8 acres of land. I worked there as a landscape contractor for several years (from 1988 through 2000 and also in 2002).

Pelli's Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte which draws elegantly, knowingly and with instinctive genius from both history and technology is perhaps the most graceful and ethereal tall building on the planet.

In Tokyo PelliClarkPelli designed the new Tokyo American Club, a wonderful complex with his signature use of glass and a welcoming Winter Garden. Thank you.

Making beauty in world by inspiring others and capturing meaning in art and culture is the true task of the architect. Few rise to this level. As one generation passes to the torch to the next, we should appreciate that talent like Cesar Pelli shows up to lead the way.

While now surpassed in height, the Petronas Twin Towers remain my favorite tall building project of the modern era. The flat top glass boxes are so boring by comparison.

During my architectural education Mr. Pelli was among the small group of architects I most admired, principally for his amalgamation of practicality and bling. Well done, sir. Well done.

There was a time Houston's Galleria District was defined by two things: Philip Johnson's Transco Tower [now Williams Tower] and Pelli's Four Leaf Towers. Houston developers loved Pelli (and Johnson), and he loved them back, with additional designs elsewhere in the city. I'd even go so far to say Pelli did for Houston what Arquitectonica did for Miami. The colors, the geometries. The world is a better place with his work. What a life!

Thank you Mr. Pelli for your inspired vision. It was a true privilege to have met you and to have been associated in a small way with your work and the firm you created.

His talents were only rivaled by a few

In many cities, especially those I have seen in the USA, the most elegant buildings were designed by Cesar Pelli. I have no objection to elegant architecture. Farewell my favorite.

Thank you Mr. Pelli for returning and integrating the delight's of texture and surprise to the most present and lasting parts of what's built all around us.

We salute to this amazing Argentine Architect.