Santiago Calatrava Unveils New Landmark in Dallas

NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, March 2nd, world-renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava will unveil his first vehicular bridge in the United States. Located in Dallas, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is a major component of the city's urban revitalization efforts, linking Dallas' two riverbanks, thus making the Trinity River a central gathering place.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120229/NY61290-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120229/NY61290-b)

To celebrate the grand opening of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, the Trinity Trust Group will host a series of inaugural events. The festivities will kick off on Friday, March 2nd with a ticketed fundraiser, complete with fireworks and a performance by Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, and conclude on Sunday, March 4th with a special ribbon cutting ceremony. All events are scheduled to take place on the new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, giving revelers a once in a lifetime opportunity to walk across and experience the beauty of the Bridge. 

When Calatrava was first commissioned to design a signature bridge for Dallas, he saw it as an opportunity to rethink the city's riverfront. In order to celebrate the Trinity River and highlight its enormous capacity to bring new development to Dallas, the architect devised a plan to transform the area into a central gathering place; effectively pumping life back into the River.

"During my first visit to Dallas I realized that the river basin had the potential to be of defining importance to the city's future development," said Santiago Calatrava. "I envisioned a recreational facility as important to Dallas as Central Park is to New York City. The opening of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge marks a giant leap towards realizing this goal. It is my sincere hope that the bridge will be seen as a new landmark for the city and will be enjoyed by generations to come."

In addition to serving as a new icon for the skyline, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge will also act as a literal and figurative gateway into the city. Approximately 14,000 vehicles per day are expected to pass under the signature bridge's gleaming white arch; enabling more visitors to see the many cultural aspects that Dallas has to offer.

The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is the first of a series of bridges designed by Calatrava's office to span across the Trinity River. Work continues on the design of a new sister bridge further along the basin as part of the scheme for replacement of the Interstate Highway (IH) 30.

MEDIA CONTACT

For additional information and/or images of Santiago Calatrava's signature Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, please contact Jacqueline Platt Godsey at Corbin-Hillman Communications at (646) 233-0465 or [email protected].

ABOUT SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

Santiago Calatrava's name has been most closely associated with his celebrated designs of bridges and transportation centers built throughout the world. Highlights of his work include designs for: The Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin (2001), the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (2004), the Light Rail Train Bridge in Jerusalem (2007) the Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande in Venice (2008) and the Liege-Guillemins TGV Railway Station in Belgium (2009). He is currently working on a variety of design and construction projects throughout the world including: The World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York; the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas; The Peace Bridge in Calgary; Citta dello Sport, Rectorate and Campus Master Plan for Roma II University in Tor Vergata, Italy and Yuan Ze University in Taiwan.

SOURCE Santiago Calatrava