The Parisian building with a large glass pyramid out front is the Louvre Museum. The pyramid, known as the Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre), is a large glass-and-metal structure designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. It serves as the main entrance to the museum and is located in the main courtyard (Cour Napoléon) of the Louvre Palace in Paris. The pyramid was completed in 1989 as part of the Grand Louvre project to modernize the museum and improve visitor access. It stands about 21 meters tall with a base width of 35 meters and is made up of 603 diamond-shaped and 70 triangular glass panes. The glass was specially developed to be extra-clear to allow unobstructed views of the historic palace facades from both inside and outside the pyramid. The Louvre Pyramid has become an iconic landmark of Paris and symbolizes the museum itself