“Suzhou meant a lot to my father, and I find that its significance only gets more and more important over time. My father would often tell us that our family’s roots are planted in Suzhou”. He is very familiar with the family’s history in Suzhou. Pei’s family moved from Anhui to Zhejiang and then to Suzhou over 600 years ago. During the Ming Dynasty, they were merchants of medical herbs and as its prosperity grew the family was able to acquire Shizilin as its home. “Later, my father moved to Shanghai with the family, but since he was the eldest grandson, he had the responsibility of returning to Suzhou each summer to familiarize himself with the family business and study its cultural traditions. My father would often describe to us those summer times he spent in Shizilin where he would play in the garden among the rocks, trees, and ponds with his siblings; these memories were greatly reflected in his works,” says Mr. Sandi Pei.

For many people, I.M. Pei’s smile is one of his hallmarks; it is among the first things in Mr. Sandi Pei and his family members’ minds whenever they think of their father. His smile was very affecting. It reflected his sense of generosity, openness, and modesty. Although he would occasionally experience disappointment and regret, it would rarely affect his demeanor towards others. He treated everyone with dignity and respect.  “My father’s smile did not convey self-satisfaction but it was instead an expression of sincerity, warmth, and gratitude, as well as inner confidence and strength. I think this may be one of the reasons why people were attracted to him so much and felt committed to his goals.”

The names of the three brothers contain a devotion to China, and they have been active in giving back to their homeland

To many people, Mr. I.M. Pei’s achievement in architecture has reached the state of art, and it is also considered a big challenge for the three brothers to inherit their father’s professional and business success. However, in Mr. Sandi Pei’s words to the reporter, he has never been daunted by the challenge. Instead, he has always felt privileged and honored to work in the same occupation. He considers architecture a noble profession, aptly described as the “mother of the arts.” Unfortunately for the time being, Mr. Sandi Pei revealed there is currently no one from the next generation in Pei’s family that will pursue a career in architecture, however he hopes that in the future the Pei legacy will inspire one to take on its rewarding path.