NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Saturday, March 24, The City of Calgary will celebrate the anticipated opening of Santiago Calatrava’s signature Peace Bridge. The red twisting helix shaped pedestrian bridge is unlike any of the renowned architect’s other designs.
Known for his soaring, vertical icons, Calatrava opted to design a low single-span bridge in order to meet geometrical constraints. With a no fly zone enacted above the bridge due to a nearby heliport and the high water and ice levels of the Bow River beneath it, Calatrava had an envelope of only 7 meters in which to create his signature bridge.
Additionally, the Peace Bridge was designed without supporting piers in the riverbed in order to minimize impact on the surrounding environment. These parameters influenced Calatrava’s decision to proceed with a tubular steel truss bridge; a highly technical, yet visually stunning design.
“Although the design concept for the Peace Bridge is very challenging, it is one that I am extremely proud of,” said Santiago Calatrava. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to work in this beautiful city.”
When Calatrava was first commissioned by The City of Calgary to design a pedestrian bridge over the Bow River, he was greatly inspired by his surroundings. The architect noticed that despite harsh winters, bicyclists, joggers and other pedestrians continued to use the river pathways and bridges. Therefore, he wanted to provide the citizens of Calgary with an aesthetically pleasing structure that would also offer protection from the extreme natural elements. The result is an awe-inspiring permeable, yet enclosed bridge that is as functional during the winter as it is during the summer.
To celebrate the official inauguration of the Calatrava-designed Peace Bridge, a community-focused, family-oriented afternoon will be held Saturday, March 24th at Peace Park; which is located at the south end of the bridge.
MEDIA CONTACT
For additional information and/or images of Santiago Calatrava’s Peace Bridge, please contact Jacqueline Platt Godsey at Corbin-Hillman Communications at (646) 233-0465 or Jacqueline@corbinpr.com.
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 Liège-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 McDermott Bridge in Dallas; Città dello Sport, Rectorate and Campus Master Plan for Roma II University in Tor Vergata, Italy and Yuan Ze University in Taiwan.
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