I.M. Pei: A Life in Architecture Early Life and Education Ieoh Ming Pei, also known as I.M. Pei, was born on April 26, 1917, in Guangzhou, China. His family had a rich history rooted in the scholar-gentry class and wealth derived from medicinal herbs. Early influences included the garden villas of Suzhou, which instilled a lifelong appreciation for spatial harmony and design. In 1935, Pei moved to the United States and initia…