When describing the process of designing Tunghai University, Chen recalled that Pei had called Chang and him together for a brainstorming session, suggesting they build a vaulted gothic brick church and using his hands to convey its shape.
他生前回顧東海校園的設計過程時提到，最早，貝聿銘找他與張肇康開動腦會，大夥品嚐幾杯紅酒後，貝聿銘比出球型手勢，表示想做一個哥德式圓拱的磚砌教堂。