Calatrava in Denver

Another inbox gem:

Renowned Spanish Architect

Santiago Calatrava to Visit Denver

DOCA will host special public presentation

on Calatrava’s unique vision & career July 28

DENVER, CO – JULY 21, 2010 – The evening of July 28, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs will host a special public presentation on the unique vision and career of renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, to be followed by Q & A. Calatrava will be in town to unveil his design for Denver International Airport’s South Terminal Redevelopment, which will take place the following day July 29. The public presentation on July 28 is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required; however, seating is first-come, first-served.

WHAT: Public presentation on unique vision & career of architect Santiago Calatrava followed by Q & A

WHO: Architect Santiago Calatrava

WHEN: Wednesday, July 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sharp Auditorium, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14^th Ave. Pkwy.

DOCA’s public presentation on the unique vision and career of Santiago Calatrava is an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the celebrated architect, who was selected for the City’s latest civic venture, DIA’s South Terminal Redevelopment.

Architect, artist and engineer Santiago Calatrava was born on July 28, 1951, in Valencia, Spain.

Calatrava began his formal instruction in drawing and painting at the age of eight. He earned a degree in architecture from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in Valencia, where he also took a post-graduate course in urbanism. Attracted by the mathematical rigor of certain great works of historic architecture, and feeling that his training in Valencia had given him no clear direction, Calatrava decided to pursue post-graduate studies in civil engineering and enrolled in 1975 at the ETH (Federal Institute of Technology) in Zurich. He received his Ph.D. in 1981.

In 1984, Calatrava designed and built the Bach de Roda Bridge in Barcelona. This was the beginning of the bridge projects that established his international reputation. Since then, Calatrava has been commissioned for bridges and buildings across Europe, as well as numerous projects in North and South America.

Calatrava’s first building in the U.S.—the expansion of the Milwaukee Art Museum—was completed in 2001. It was named “Best of 2001” by Time Magazine, “2002 Best Large Structure” by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, “2004 Outstanding Structure” by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering and “2004 Outstanding Project Award” from the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, Chicago, Illinois. Sundial Bridge in Redding, California, was Calatrava’s first bridge in the U.S., completed in 2004. Recent U.S. commissions include the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York and three bridges over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.

Calatrava’s honors and awards are many. They include being named a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (1993) and one of the “Time 100” most influential people by Time Magazine in 2005. He has received 18 honorary doctorates to date, is an Honorary Citizen of Liege and a Permanent Honorary Guest (Ständiger Ehrengast) of the University of Zurich.

Santiago Calatrava has offices in Zurich, Valencia and New York. For more information, visit www.calatrava.com.

The mission of the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs is to advance the arts and culture in the City and County of Denver.