MUSE Winston-Salem will explore the life and legacy of world-renowned architect César Pelli with a day of tours and special events for all ages on Monday, October 12, marking what would have been Pelli’s 100th birthday.

Presented in collaboration with Robinson Park, Community Design Studio, and the Winston-Salem chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the event invites the public to experience and learn more about one of Winston-Salem’s most distinctive architectural landmarks, 100 North Main Street, while exploring Pelli’s remarkable career and his significant contributions to the city’s built environment. The celebration is intended to introduce new audiences to 100 North Main Street while offering longtime Winston-Salem residents an opportunity to see a familiar landmark in a new way.

Pelli, who died in 2019, left a major imprint on Winston-Salem. He designed the Worrell Professional Center at Wake Forest University, completed in 1993 and now home to the Wake Forest University School of Law. He also designed the city’s tallest building, 100 North Main Street, originally known as the Wachovia Center, which was completed in 1996 and is today known as Wells Fargo Center.

The October 12 celebration will include a variety of events perfect for architecture enthusiasts and anyone interested in Winston-Salem’s history and skyline. The day’s events will include:

‍“Birthday for César!—Books, Building, and Bird’s-Eye-Views” — for children ages 5-13 (accompanied by a parent), this event will include architecture-themed storytime, hands-on architecture/city planning activities, 360-degree “bird’s-eye view” aerial sightseeing of the city and, of course, a piece of birthday cake! Co-presented with the Community Design Studio and the Winston-Salem chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Advance registration is required and capacity limited for this free event.  ‍

Guided tours of the 100 North Main Street grounds, lobby, patio, and the 26th floor, with its unparalleled 360-degree panoramic views of Winston-Salem and its environs. The guided tour experiences will last 1.5 hours, ending on the 26th floor where visitors can explore a pop-up curation about César Pelli and the building’s history, and take their time admiring the views and grabbing some unforgettable selfies! Tickets for these tours cost $30 per person and should be purchased online. ‍

“Sunset Shindig for César!”—Capping our day-long celebration of Pelli’s 100th birthday, attendees will be welcomed to 100 North Main Street with a guided tour of the grounds and lobby before ascending to the 26th floor for a sunset hour wine + cheese, followed by a special lecture, “On the Rise: César Pelli in Winston-Salem,” by architectural historian Dr. Nikki Moore, Assistant Professor of Art at Wake Forest University. An expert in global modernism and Latin American architecture, Moore’s lecture will place the Camel City work of Argentina-born Pelli in the broader context of his international career, which earned him a place among the giants of postmodernism. Tickets for this event cost $50 per person. ‍

About Dr. Nikki Moore: 

Dr. Nikki Moore, S.M.Arch.S., is an Assistant Professor of global art and architectural history at Wake Forest University. She received the Dedalus Foundation’s 2026 Senior Fellowship to complete her manuscript, Experts in the Fields: Art, Architecture, and Resistance at the Mexican Origins of the Global Green Revolution. Her research is supported by the University-Based Institutes for Advanced Study, the Social Science Research Council, Mellon Foundation, Graham Foundation, and Wake Forest University.‍

About Community Design Studio

Community Design Studio is a 501c3 non-profit based in Winston-Salem that has been transforming ideas into equitable, inclusive, and sustainable spaces since 2011. Its multidisciplinary team partners on place-based projects across the Piedmont Triad, working in three connected areas: Leadership by Design youth programming, community-engaged design services, and collaborative public design projects.‍

About AIA Winston-Salem

AIA Winston-Salem operates as a voice for the architecture profession, dedicated to serving its members, advancing their value, and improving the quality of the built environment. AIAWS strives to both promote a culture of mentorship and collaboration as well as provide a collective voice, foster emerging and existing talent, and elevate the standing of the profession of architecture.‍

About MUSE Winston-Salem

MUSE Winston-Salem is a history museum for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, located on the downtown ‘cultural corridor’ at 226 S. Liberty Street. Our mission is to connect, enrich and enlarge the community through history, storytelling and informed, balanced perspective that leads to acceptance, understanding and belonging.

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Robinson Park

Winston-Salem AIA

Community Design Studio