I.M. Pei to Receive the Royal Gold Medal

While Oscar Niemeyer, at 102, might hold the title for oldest-living starchitect, he’s closely trailed by the great I.M. Pei, who at 92, is still working. And for all those years of work, he’s had a bang up week thus far with the announcement that he will be receiving the Royal Institute of British Architects‘ highest honor (as well as in the field itself), the Royal Gold Medal:

Given in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Her Majesty the Queen and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence “either directly or indirectly on the advancement of architecture”.

Pei, who is perhaps best known for creating the National Gallery of Art, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Louvre Pyramid (long before the McDonald’s addition), was nominated by newer starchitect David Adjaye, “who described the architect as a ‘giant in the canon of greats’.” Pei will receive the award in person this upcoming February, on the 11th, at the RIBA’s headquarters in London.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting this Thursday, February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Michael Brito (Edelman Digital), and Tim Devane (bitly). Register now.