Designed by I.M Pei, the Museum of Islamic Art located in Doha, Qatar started construction in late 2003 and finished in 2008. As one of the most famous museums in the world it holds many ancient treasures and art pieces from all around the world. At the age of 91, This was the last cultural building designed by I.M Pei’s with his death in 2019. The Museum stands alone and draws influence from ancient Islamic architecture such as the Grand Mosque in Cordoba, Spain, Fatepur Sikri in India, and notably, the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. The Museum of Islamic Art is comprised of a main building with an adjacent education wing connected by a large central courtyard. Inside the Museum are five different levels with a high domed atrium located within the central tower.

The building was influenced by the geometric patterns found in Islamic architecture and is made from octagonal shaped blocks of cream-covered (sandy looking) limestone to blend into the natural surroundings. I.M Pei at the age of 91 had to learn about Muslim architecture and history in order to draw inspiration for his design. The museum cost over 800 million dollars to build and covers more than 376,740 square feet and overlooks the South end of Doha Bay.

Designed by I.M Pei, the Bank of China Tower located in Hong Kong, China was completed in 1989. Pei had many other buildings completed in the same year such as the glass pyramid of the Grand Louvre. The Bank of China commissioned Pei to design the Bank in 1982 but the construction did not start until 1985. The building costs were around 668 million (in 1985) and became the most iconic building in the Hong Kong skyline. The construction site was located near busy streets, railway stations, and other towers which caused many problems. Some of the problems included the blocking the view of the HSBC tower and other construction related problems.

Due to diverse weather and conditions, the Bank of China had to be built to withstand typhoons, wind, and other natural weather. The tower uses a steel-framed structure reinforced with concrete. This unique design was resistant to wind, used less building material(steel), and allowed for faster construction.

The tower has a base of 52m on each side and was split into four different quadrants during construction. Pei decided that he wanted his design of the tower to resemble bamboo because when bamboo grows together it becomes more stable and stronger. Pei divided the square plan into 4 different quadrants with each quadrant of the tower reaching different heights creating a tapered look. This unique design used less than half the steel than its neighboring towers.

Located on the shore of Lake Eerie in Cleveland, Ohio, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was designed by architect I.M Pei and broke ground in 1993 and finished construction in 1995. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of the most iconic buildings in Cleveland as Pei’s signature glass pyramid is built into Lake Eerie. Cleveland out-bid other cities in the U.S and pledged to spend sixty-five million dollars in public funding to spend on and create the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reaches a height of 162 feet (tower) and composed of many different structures (twin glass pyramid-like structure, circular structures built into Lake Eerie). Pei used his style and design combined with other architectural elements to resemble the arm of a record player. The front of the museum opens into the circular plaza which tries to reference a record. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has eight different levels and includes an exhibition hall, two movie theaters, and a stage on the entrance level.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a combination of different geometric forms that houses more than 55,000 square feet of exhibition space. Pei tried to design the building using musical influence, For example, Pei tried to resonate and reverberate voices/sounds from the center of the building to sound like a musical chord. This building has won numerous awards such as the Engineering Excellence Award (1998) from the New York Association of Consulting Engineers and the Award for Innovative Design and Excellence in Architecture Using Structural Steel (1998) from the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Steel Construction.

Architect Ieoh Ming Pei (I.M Pei) started designing the Louvre Pyramid in 1983 and finished construction in 1989. I.M Pei designed the Pyramid in order to expand and modernize the historic Louvre. Although the expansion and modernization of the Grand Louvre was quite controversial, The Grand Louvre is currently one of the most visited museums located in Paris, France.

The Louvre Pyramid is a centrally located glass pyramid in the middle of the Louvre Palace which was built under Philip II in the late 12th to 13th century. The Pyramid sits on a two-meter thick slab of concrete and is 71 feet tall and covers 11,000 square feet. The Pyramid features a 540 degree spiral staircase, clear glass (673 panes of glass), and fans at the bottom of the pyramid to prevent condensation. The Pyramid itself is supported by stainless steel poles which reinforces the glass and protects it against wind. The construction of the museum cost around 1.5 billion Euros.

The Louvre Pyramid forms the main entrance into the museum which then leads down into different galleries and areas of the museum. The Louvre museum holds many popular art pieces such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus De Milo. Many individuals may recognize The Louvre as it was featured in the movie The Da Vinci Code directed by Ron Howard. One of Pei’s goals of designing the Louvre Pyramid was to integrate modern design without compromising the integrity of the historic structures and rich history.

The Beijing National Stadium also known as “Birds Nest” was designed for use in the 2008 olympics. This stadium has a 91,000 seat capacity and was designed by architects Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Stefan Marbach, and chief architect Li Xinggang. This team of architects wanted to incorporate Chinese culture and studied Chinese ceramics. After studying the art, they decided to use the “nest scheme”. The stadium consists two structures standing 50 feet apart. The outer shell is made up of steel beams and the inner portion is a red concrete seating bowl. This structure had to fit the requirements of the bidding process and had to hide the steel supports for the retractable roof. To do so, the team developed “random-looking additional steel” to blend the supports into the rest of the stadium, but later the retractable roof was removed. This stadium costs over $290 million to construct and still houses many sports and entertainment events

This stadium has had a positive effect on me as it gives me a sense of nostalgia to when times were simple and easy. I remember watching the 2008 olympics at home with my family and watching Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals. This was also my first time seeing this stadium for the first time. I was amazed at how complex this structure looked and how advanced technology had become. I wondered how the building stood on its own as its design was very complex and crazy. The Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) will always have a special place in my heart and memory.

The Jenks Trojan Aquatic Center features modern design and holds a 50 meter pool. Some modern design features include a “breaking wave” roof and has waves of glass hanging in the lobby. This structure cost over 19 million to construct and covers over 50,000 sq ft and completed in 2011. The Aquatic Centre has received various rewards which include the AIA honor award, Outstanding Design-Sports Stadium/Athletic Facilities, and the Outstanding Design-Work in progress. Those who use this facility include students, master-swimmers, and others in the community. This building/facility is massive and many schools, swimmers, and individuals dream of having/using a facility like this.

This building had a positive influence on me as I was on the swim team at Jenks. The first time I walked through the doors I knew that this facility was one-of-a-kind and housed greatness. I was surprised that the school decided to have it built because it is very expensive to maintain. The outside and the inside of the building made the students and community proud to have it to serve as a monumental building on the campus and in the city. Not only did it serve as a practice facility, but it also held many regional, state, and local events and swim meets.

The Jenks Math and Science Center has positively affected me as it was one of the better buildings on the Jenks campus. The Math and Science Center is one highlights of the Jenks High School Campus and is a central building on their campus. This building has lots of natural lighting and holds a planetarium which everybody enjoys. The front of the building has 2-4 small spinning turbines and is rated gold in the LEED rating system. This building has an area of 91,580 square ft. and had cost around 20.02 million to construct. The building was completed in 2011 houses the mathematics and science classes of Jenks. This building also incorporates sustainable environmental elements as it incorporates exposed geothermal heating and cooling as well as recycling centers and shading devices

This building has made an impact on many of the students that go to Jenks High School as it is one of the nicer and natural lighted places on the campus. One of my best experiences in this building was walking into the natural lighted lobby of the building and walking up the stair to the planetarium. I had and still have the feeling of being proud of being a part of Jenks as this building is a center piece of the city of Jenks.

The world’s largest Bass Pro Shop makes you feel another type of way. This structure has been a positive influence as it provides happiness and euphoria to anyone who enters. This Bass Pro is not only a pyramid, but houses many activities and has outstanding theming (like all bass pro shops). The shape of the structure provides a “wow” factor to whomever drives or fly’s past it. This Pyramid structure houses many interesting features and landscapes such as fish tanks, ponds, bowling alley, and other activities which families will enjoy. This pyramid is home to a 100 room hotel as well as over 600,000 gallons of water related features. At first glance you can enjoy the uniqueness and the design of one of the largest modern pyramids created. Who drives by this building and does not wonder why there is a pyramid in Memphis.

This pyramid structure was not originally built for the world’s largest Bass Pro, but was built as an entertainment/sports arena in 1991 and had over 20,000 seats. The pyramid cost over 65 million dollars to construct and had the height of 321 feet. The idea of creating a bronze glass-glazed pyramid was first thought of by Mark C. Hartz ( Memphis Artist) in 1954 and broke ground in September 1989 and opened in November 1991. Overtime this building has been renovated by the city and has been revamped to fit the needs of the leaser/occupant. This structure was made so that the community could come together and enjoy entertainment, shopping, and other family friendly activities and continues to do so to this day.