Ala Wai Plaza had its first residents in the early 70s.
 
Since that time, the strong geometric forms, clean line of materials, and night time light-washed elevator cores have made AWP an iconic piece of Honolulu high-rise architecture.

The architectural firm of record was DMJM; however, our building bears some remarkable resemblance to the work of I. M. Pei, who, interestingly enough, was 'in town' during the same period for the design and construction of the East-West Center and Kennedy Theater at UH. 

Unusual design details seen at AWP, such as floor-to-ceiling windows and a deep concrete grid to protect against glare and direct sun, are design strategies seen in other Pei designs of the 60s, like MIT, shown here.

Pei is world renowned for his elegant proportioning of large scale buildings, such as the East wing of the National Gallery or the Bank of China, Hong Kong.
 
We'll never get a confirmation that I. M. Pei had a hand in the design of Ala Wai Plaza, but the similarities are still striking, and we should all be proud of having such an attractive place to call home!

By Deborah Rosenblum, Managing Director, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, Architects