Accepted Quote by I. M. Pei
“My projects have typically taken a long time to complete. Buildings might take on average about five to seven years to finish, but in my case it's been longer, because the projects I have accepted within the past 15 years have been mostly government projects, and those involve some politics and funding issues, and approvals and so forth. So they're slower.”
About This Quote
He explains that large‑scale, especially government‑linked, architectural projects often exceed typical timelines due to political, financial, and bureaucratic complexities.
In simple terms: Big projects take longer because of politics and funding.
Key Takeaway
Complex governance slows construction timelines.
Themes
architecture
project management
government
bureaucracy
funding
Mood
pragmatic
reflective
Type
professional insight
industry commentary
When to use this quote
- public infrastructure planning
- urban redevelopment
- museum construction
- military base upgrades
Key Concepts
institutional inertia
risk mitigation
Practical Applications
- anticipate regulatory delays in schedules
- build stakeholder communication plans
Questions to Reflect On
- How can architects mitigate political delays?
- What strategies balance thorough approvals with project agility?
A Different Perspective
Extended timelines can increase costs and reduce design relevance over time.
![“When I got the opportunity to do the new wing [the Schauhaus] for the German Historical Museum, for instance, I didn't see it as an opportunity for my own ego, to do something so exciting that every architectural publication would want to put it on the cover. I accepted it because I knew it was…” quote by I. M. Pei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89d/i-m-pei-21076_accepted_when-i-got-the-opportunity-to-do-the-new_284075.jpg)
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
