thumb|Pei wanted the open spaces and buildings of L'Enfant Plaza to be "functionally and visually related" to one another.Quoted in Wiseman, p. 61.|alt=The L'Enfant Plaza complex of office buildings. Two buildings are visible, arranged around a courtyard.
thumb|Pei wanted the open spaces and buildings of L'Enfant Plaza to be "functionally and visually related" to one anotherQuoted in Wiseman, p. 61|alt=The L'Enfant Plaza complex of office buildings. Two buildings are visible, arranged around a courtyard