Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects announces the renaming of the award-winning firm to Pelli Clarke &Partners as it honors the firm’s legacy and continue its vision for the future. Together, Fred Clarke and Rafael Pelli along with ten other exceptional Partners are proud to lead Pelli Clarke & Partners into the bright future.
Pelli Clarke & Partners is known for designing some of the world’s most iconic buildings. The firm’s portfolio includes critically-acclaimed buildings such as Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the International Finance Center in Hong Kong, and Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco.
Pelli Clarke & Partners designs transformative buildings and public spaces that connect people and place – earning the firm hundreds of international awards for design excellence, as well as coveted awards from national, regional, and local chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Continuing their commitment to excellence by creating imaginative buildings that honor a city and energize its communities, Pelli Clarke & Partners has several new projects on the horizon. “We’re looking toward our bright future here at Pelli Clarke & Partners and are thrilled that a number of transformative projects will open their doors in 2022,” said Fred Clarke, Founder and Partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners. “We’re delighted that the coming year brings the grand opening of Texas Tower in Houston, Salesforce Tower Chicago, and the Chengdu Museum of Natural History in China. These projects celebrate the innovative spirit and contemporary ethos in the heart of their respective cities.”
Founded by Cesar Pelli with partners Fred Clarke and Diana Balmori in 1977, the firm began its legacy as Cesar Pelli & Associates at its first office in New Haven, Connecticut – the location that remains its flagship office today. In 2000, Rafael Pelli established the New York office. In recognition of the significant contributions of its senior designers, the firm name became Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects in 2005. Over the next two decades, the firm further developed its international scope - opening offices in Tokyo, Shanghai and most recently, Shenzhen in 2020.
Always a visionary, Cesar Pelli laid the groundwork for growth and transition to occur organically. Inspired by his time working with Eero Saarinen, Cesar fostered a studio environment that encouraged active participation, sharing of ideas and complete collaboration across the entire firm. When Cesar Pelli passed away in 2019, the Partners were already carrying on Cesar’s vision as the next generation of leadership at the helm.
With five offices around the world, and a portfolio of current projects that will transform cities over the next decade, the firm is strengthened by its cohesive leadership and the team’s ability to work across geographic and cultural boundaries.
“All of us at Pelli Clarke & Partners are proud to carry our legacy forward, rooted in a rigorous, open, and responsive design process,” said Rafael Pelli, Partner at Pelli Clarke &Partners. “Our new name celebrates our deeply collaborative culture as we continue our legacy of creating sustainable and inspiring environments that transform communities around the world.”
The name, Pelli Clarke & Partners, introduces a new wordmark, website and energy that reflect the well-established, highly regarded reputation of the firm while continuing its technical proficiency and visionary perspective. Pelli Clarke & Partners is pleased to share their design heritage story with a video that can be viewed at www.pcparch.com/firm
Related Stories
K-12 Schools | Feb 18, 2023
Atlanta suburb opens $85 million serpentine-shaped high school designed by Perkins&Will
In Ellenwood, Ga., a southeast suburb of Atlanta, Perkins and Will has partnered with Clayton County Public Schools and MEJA Construction to create a $85 million secondary school. Morrow High School, which opened in fall 2022, serves more than 2,200 students in Clayton County, a community with students from over 30 countries.
Museums | Feb 17, 2023
First Americans Museum uses design metaphors of natural elements to honor native worldview
First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City honors the 39 tribes in Oklahoma today, reflecting their history through design metaphors of nature’s elements of earth, wind, water, and fire. The design concept includes multiple circles suggested by arcs, reflecting the native tradition of a circular worldview that encompasses the cycle of life, the seasons, and the rotation of the earth.
Architects | Feb 17, 2023
Architect of the Capitol fired by President Biden after strong bipartisan criticism
Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton was let go this week following alleged abuse of authority, misuse of government property, and wasted taxpayer money.
High-rise Construction | Feb 15, 2023
Bjarke Ingels' 'leaning towers' concept wins Qianhai Prisma Towers design competition
A pair of sloped high-rises—a 300-meter residential tower and a 250-meter office tower—highlight the Qianhai Prisma Towers development in Qianhai, Shenzhen, China. BIG recently won the design competition for the project.
Senior Living Design | Feb 15, 2023
Passive House affordable senior housing project opens in Boston
Work on Phase Three C of The Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony, a 55-apartment midrise building in Boston that stands out for its use of Passive House design principles, was recently completed. Designed by The Architectural Team (TAT), the four-story structure was informed throughout by Passive House principles and standards.
Designers | Feb 13, 2023
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers Establishes Diversity Advancement Scholarship Fund
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, contributed $25,000 to fund the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship, administered through the Connecticut Architecture Foundation. The fund provides scholarships for students from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups who are seeking degrees in architecture or engineering.
Office Buildings | Feb 12, 2023
Smyrna Ready Mix’s new office HQ mimics the patterns in the company’s onsite stone quarry
Designed by EOA Architects to showcase various concrete processes and applications, Smyrna Ready Mix's new office headquarters features vertical layering that mimics the patterns in the company’s stone quarry, located on the opposite end of the campus site. The building’s glass and concrete bands are meant to mirror the quarry’s natural contours and striations.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 11, 2023
8 Gold and Platinum multifamily projects from the NAHB's BALA Awards
This year's top BALA multifamily winners showcase leading design trends, judged by eight industry professionals from across the country.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 10, 2023
Dallas to get a 19-story, 351-unit residential high-rise
In Dallas, work has begun on a new multifamily high-rise called The Oliver. The 19-story, 351-unit apartment building will be located within The Central, a 27-acre mixed-use development near the Knox/Henderson neighborhood north of downtown Dallas.
Sustainability | Feb 9, 2023
New guide for planning, designing, and operating onsite water reuse systems
The Pacific Institute, a global nonpartisan water think tank, has released guidance for developers to plan, design, and operate onsite water reuse systems. The Guide for Developing Onsite Water Systems to Support Regional Water Resilience advances circular, localized approaches to managing water that reduce a site’s water footprint, improve its resilience to water shortage or other disruptions, and provide benefits for local communities and regional water systems.
