He has received more than 100 awards for design excellence, and eight books have been dedicated to his designs and theories. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) selected him as one of the 10 most influential living American architects in 1991, and awarded him its Gold Medal for lifetime achievement in 1995. A 1996 recipient of the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award, he served as dean of the School of Architecture at Yale University from 1977 to 1984, and wrote the book, Observations for Young Architects. His firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli, was founded in 1977 and is recognized throughout the world for its standard-setting work in architectural design.