Photo courtesy Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Architect César Pelli, co-founder of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and designer of some of the world’s tallest buildings and other iconic landmarks, has died at the age of 92.
Pelli was born in Argentina and received a diploma in architecture from Universidad Nacional de Tucumán and a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign School of Architecture. Named dean of the Yale School of Architecture in 1977, Pelli opened his own practice in New Haven, Connecticut. More than four decades of projects were completed by him around the globe.
Under Pelli’s leadership, the firm received international attention and accolades, including the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA’s) Firm Award. In 1995, AIA awarded Pelli the Gold Medal. In 2004, the firm was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the Petronas Towers.
Some of his major work includes the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the World Financial Center in New York City. In 2018, the Salesforce Tower and the first phase of the adjacent Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco were completed. The Salesforce Tower was named the world’s best tall building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) in 2019.
