Rice Francis Ritchie (RFR) were asked to review the I M Pei scheme design of the Pyramid structure and glazing in 1985, and some months later to design and erect a full scale mock-up on the site for review by President Mitterand, M. Chirac, and M. Pei. In 1987 RFR acted as consultants to EPGL/Pei/Macary to control and refine the design of the structure with CFEM/EIFFEL, the appointed contractor.
RFR subsequently designed the structure and glazing of the smaller inverted pyramid, which was completed in 1992 and also acts as another focal point within the enlarged Louvre below the courtyard.
It was the first occasion in France that low-iron glass (PPG starphire ®) was used as a construction material (refer also the Ecology Gallery).
1995 Benedictus Prize for The Inverted Pyramid