At Tongji University's Wenyuan Building 106 Lecture Hall, Sandi Pei stood beside a projected image of his father, I.M. Pei, delivering a lecture at Tongji 43 years ago, creating a touching photo that bridged time.

On November 18, Li Chung Pei (Sandi), Architect, Partner and Founder of PEI PARTNERSHIP ARCHITECTS, and son of I.M. Pei, visited Tongji University accompanied by Lu Yuzong, Chairman of the Guanghua Education Group and a member of Tongji University's Board of Trustees. Wu Guangming, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tongji University Committee; Zou Xiaolei, Director of the Tongji University Archives; and Wang Zhendong, Secretary of the CPC College of Architecture and Urban Planning Committee, accompanied him on a tour of the university's history museum, Wenyuan Building, the college's history museum, and the Computational Design Teaching Achievements Exhibition held in Building C during the 2024 CDAC Computational Design Academic Conference.

Retrospect the past, In April 1981, I.M. Pei delivered a lecture to faculty and students of Tongji University's College of Architecture and Urban Planning in the largest lecture hall of Wenyuan Building. A part of Pei's student years was spent at St. John's University, whose architecture department merged with Tongji in 1952. Pei shared deep friendships with Tongji professors Chen Congzhou and Feng Jizhong, a founding figure of the architecture discipline at Tongji. In 1985, he was named an Honorary Professor at Tongji—the first honorary title he received in China. In 1994, Tongji awarded him an Honorary Doctorate, making him a unique “Tongji alumnus.”

The exhibition I.M. Pei: Life as Architecture is currently on display at Hong Kong's M+ Museum, offering a comprehensive retrospective of Pei's works and remarkable life. It also highlights his lesser-known contributions to urban planning, particularly in improving public housing and low-income community environments.

With a vision to promote the legacy of Pei's architectural culture and spirit, Tongji University Board Member and Guanghua Education Group Chairman, Lu Yuzong, expressed hopes to build on the exhibition through the Tongji Scholars Library, showcasing Pei's unique connection to both Shanghai and Tongji University.

At the meeting, Wang Zhendong outlined CAUP's history, including its ties to St. John's University. He introduced the college’s achievements in faculty, teaching, research, and international collaboration, emphasizing its mission to create poetic living environments and train top talents. He highlighted the college's focus on integrating artificial intelligence with interdisciplinary approaches and advancing its international development strategy.

Sandi Pei reflected on his father's deep connection with Tongji University, noting, “As a practicing architect, my father rarely gave lectures or engaged in academic discussions, but he visited Tongji multiple times, underscoring the special bond he shared with the university.”

Wang praised I.M. Pei as the last master of modernism, whose global architectural contributions symbolized a fusion of Chinese traditional culture and modern global culture. He expressed hope that Pei’s architectural philosophy would inspire Tongji students to pursue excellence. Sandi Pei also conveyed admiration for Tongji’s efforts in advancing international architectural education and leveraging AI in architectural design.