Inaugurated on 29 March 1989 by the French President François Mitterrand, the Louvre Pyramid is the symbol of a museum open to the world. Designed by the Sino-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei, the pyramid is the central access point for visitors to the Louvre Museum. Built in the middle of the Cour Napoléon, the entirely transparent glass building is designed to bring light to the underground reception hall. An exceptional glass that is transparent, light and highly resistant, known as “verre Diamant” (Diamond glass), was specially developed for the construction of the pyramid by the Saint-Gobain company.