• PEI Architects Grants Rare and Exclusive Access to Their Archives

    1 September 2025

    PRC Magazine recently interviewed Hajime Tanimura, Principal at PEI Architects in New York. As part of our deep dive into the firm’s portfolio, we were granted rare access to archival materials from the early 1990s, when one of the world’s most iconic modern skyscrapers—the Bank of China Tower in Central Hong Kong—was rising and forever transforming the city’s skyline.

    • Bank of China Tower

    Rising like a crystalline spear into the Hong Kong skyline, the Bank of China Tower is more than just a skyscraper—it’s a symbol of ambition, resilience, and architectural daring. Completed in 1990 and designed by the legendary I. M. Pei, the tower was the first building outside the United States to break the 1,000-foot barrier, standing tall at 367.4 meters. Its bold geometry, composed of interlocking triangular prisms, was inspired by bamboo—an emblem of strength and growth in Chinese culture.

    This wasn’t just a design choice; it was a statement. At a time when Hong Kong was emerging as a global financial powerhouse, the Bank of China Tower embodied the city’s forward momentum. Its shimmering glass façade reflects not only sunlight but the aspirations of a region poised between tradition and transformation.

    The tower’s presence stirred controversy among feng shui practitioners, who viewed its sharp angles with caution. Yet over time, it has become a beloved fixture of the skyline, celebrated for its elegance and engineering prowess. It has earned accolades like the AIA Reynolds Memorial Award and a Platinum rating under BEAM Plus for its sustainability efforts—proving that beauty and environmental responsibility can coexist.

    Today, the Bank of China Tower remains a beacon of innovation. It’s not just a place of business; it’s a monument to vision. Whether you’re gazing up from Garden Road or admiring it from across Victoria Harbour, the tower commands reverence—not just for its height, but for the story it tells about Hong Kong’s rise.

    In a city defined by motion and reinvention, the Bank of China Tower stands still—proud, iconic, and timeless.

    You can read the interview with Hajime Tanimura here.

    More archival photographs can be found here.

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