His Legacy Is Built On Patience Focus On Goals: Architect Pei artfully meshes his vision with those of his clients.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: CURT SCHLEIER

For I.M. Pei, it's all about patience.

Time and again on his numerous projects -- from his Pyramid entrance to the Louvre museum in Paris to the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston -- the world-famed architect ran into objections.

Consider his work on the Javits Convention Center in New York City. Though he was not the principal architect -- his partner, James Freed, was -- he was intimately involved at the beginning.

The city had arcane regulations that were difficult and costly to follow. Then the budget was cut in midstream. Mario Cuomo was elected governor, replacing Hugh Carey, who had been one of the center's prime movers -- and protectors.

Pei and Freed were called to countless emergency meetings to deal with various problems. According to Carter Wiseman's profile in American Architecture:

"As usual, Pei's courtliness and …