Archinect - News

Construction starts at SOM-designed 400 Lake Shore Drive replacement in Chicago

2024-03-05T14:24:00-05:00

The much-publicized void left behind in the wake of Santiago Calatrava’s failed Chicago Spire proposal is finally being attended to, as now the Chicago Sun-Times and other outlets are reporting on developer Related Midwest’s start of construction for the SOM-designed replacement at 400 Lake Shore Drive.

The 76-foot hole was partially filled by the 12-hour concrete pour required for the mat foundation for the two-tower scheme that will yield 1,100 apartments and the new DuSable Park at the three-acre site by Q3 2027.

Video showing the 12-hour mat foundation pour, which included 250 concrete trucks delivering 9 million pounds of concrete. Video courtesy Related Midwest

This update comes after caisson permits for the project were granted in December. David Childs is responsible for the design, which references Chicago's vernacular masonry and terra cotta architecture in two faceted 765- and 875-foot forms. Urbanize Chicago reports there to be a total of nine million tons of concrete ...

Chicago's 400 Lake Shore Drive developers finally set a construction start date

2023-10-19T12:25:00-04:00

In 45 days, the construction team will be on site to begin site clearing and mobilization. Crews will begin below-grade work, including caissons, sheeting, and the cofferdam. Work below-grade is expected to begin in Q1 of 2024 and run through Q2 2025. Once underground work is done, crews will transition to vertical construction, including concrete pours, the building enclosure, and interiors. Above-grade work will start in Q1 2025 and continue through Q2 2027.

Developers Related Midwest had initially promised a start of the project by the end of last year. Construction now will begin with the 72-story Tower One and work towards an eventual 2027 completion, ending a saga that began with the cancellation of Santiago Calatrava’s ambitious 150-floor Chicago Spire proposal in 2008.

Writing after the revised SOM plan’s approval in 2020, critic Blair Kamin said it offered a “watering-down of the project’s previously arresting skyline presence and a weakening of its contribution to a network of public spaces that was envisioned in the 1980s.”

Santiago Calatrava unveils high-end Düsseldorf complex named Calatrava Boulevard

2023-01-26T12:00:00-05:00

Santiago Calatrava has unveiled a design proposal for a luxury mixed-use complex in Düsseldorf, Germany. Named Calatrava Boulevard and situated on Düsseldorf’s swanky Königsallee, the 375,000-square-foot development includes workplace, luxury retail, and upmarket restaurant spaces.

Image credit: Santiago Calatrava LLC

The scheme’s signature architectural element will be a curved, vaulted 135-foot-long roof orientated towards Martin-Luther-Platz, shaped to remain below the typical height of high-rise buildings in the area. The complex’s remaining roofscape will be topped with landscaped terraces containing integrated solar panels.

Image credit: Santiago Calatrava LLC

Inside, the first two levels of the project will contain 160,000 square feet of luxury restaurant and retail space, while the upper levels will house 236,000 square feet of office space. The internal facade is clad with what the team describes as “sinusoidal waveforms” that sweep towards the external facades to create unit...

Calatrava’s completed St Nicholas Church at 9/11 site features a translucent stone exterior that appears to ‘glow by the light of 10,000 candles’ at night

2022-12-07T10:39:00-05:00

Work has been completed on the Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. The church is the second Calatrava-designed project to be completed at the World Trade Center Memorial site in New York City, following his World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which opened in 2016.

Image © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

Calatrava’s church is steeped in symbolism, largely influenced by Byzantine architecture. The church’s dome features 40 windows and 40 ‘ribs’ to echo the 40 ribs of Saint Nicholas, visible from both the interior and exterior. Outside, the structure is constructed of Pentelic marble to reference the same marble used on the Parthenon in Athens, while the accentuated corner towers of the scheme are clad in bands of white and gray marble reminiscent of the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, Turkey.

Image © Alan Karchmer for Santiago Calatrava

At night, the church’s dome is illuminated from within, creating what the design team calls ...

Today is Santiago Calatrava Day in Milwaukee, honoring the architect’s iconic Quadracci Pavilion

2022-09-16T12:30:00-04:00

Milwaukee has declared Friday, September 16th as Santiago Calatrava Day, in celebration of the architect’s contribution to the city. Calatrava’s legacy in the city comes in the form of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion, known locally as “The Calatrava.”

The pavilion opened in 2001 following four years of construction. Designed in collaboration with local architect David Kahler Slater, the project was Calatrava’s first building in the United States. Three years after the pavilion’s completion, Calatrava would unveil his design for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan.

A 2013 photo of the Calatrava building courtesy Wikimedia Commons user Uriel-carmen

“What I love about Milwaukee is the city adopted it, even though it seems very foreign to what’s being made here, as the image of the city,” said Mo Zell, an associate professor and chair of the UWM architecture department in a 2020 reflection on Calatrava’s Quadracci Pavilion. “That’s a great thing whe...

SOM-designed towers planned atop Chicago Spire site finally set to begin construction this year

2022-04-11T17:19:00-04:00

Fifteen years ago, a world renowned architect planned to bring the Spire to Chicago a giant luxury condo building with sky high prices. Years later, all that's there is hole in the ground, at a prime spot by the river and the lake. Now, a new project may actually come to life there.

Construction is set to start later this year at 400 Lake Shore Drive after more than a decade as an empty plot. The site was originally reserved for the Chicago Spire, a 2,000-foot tall, twisted tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. The project, however, was canceled following the onset of the 2008 recession. Left as a mere hole in the ground, the site was acquired in 2014 by developer Related Midwest with a proposal to build two sister luxury apartment towers.

Previously on Archinect: 1,100-unit SOM towers in Chicago head toward construction

The SOM-designed project received city approval in 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic. Now, its groundbreaking is planned for the end of 2022. The towers will be built alongside a fellow long-awaited endeavor, DuSable Park, a 3.44-acre reimagined space set to be completed in 2025.

UWM’s Mo Zell on the significance of Calatrava’s Quadracci Pavilion 20 years on

2022-01-26T16:38:00-05:00

Two decades later, the Quadracci Pavilion remains one of the most significant works of architecture in Milwaukee. The project changed the conversation about the city and fueled a vision of molding the area into an arts and entertainment destination. Simply referred to as “The Calatrava” by locals, the game-changing project has made the Milwaukee Art Museum a must-see for residents and tourists alike. The structure has been the backdrop remains a symbol of the city’s continuing renaissance.

The iconic 2001 structure has become synonymous with the city’s skyline and is seen as the originator of an influx of modern buildings that includes the new Northwestern Mutual Tower and Populous-designed Fiserv Forum downtown. Mo Zell, the Senior Associate Dean of UW Milwaukee’s architecture department, says the impacts brought about by the $121 million pavilion are only beginning to be felt, and that she looks forward to seeing how the future of the city’s built environment will bear its influence.

“Twenty years feels like a long time, but it’s not,” she explained. “It’s youthful in terms of building change. I’m super excited because I think we’re on the cusp of seeing that design culture pay off in the not too distant future. The next 10 years is where you are going to see a lot more of the translation of that design in the city. I think we’re poised to have a different kind of conversation around how buildings play a significant role for the city and what it means to have good d...

Santiago Calatrava responds to Venice's Ponte della fiasco with new details about the bridge's deterioration

2022-01-05T14:12:00-05:00

Santiago Calatrava has sent Archinect a response to the recent news that the Ponte della Costituzione in Venice is set to be retrofit with new stonework following a rash of complaints caused by weather-aided slips on the bridge’s original tempered glass stairs.

The story, first published in The New York Times and picked up by several other media outlets, focused on the glass’s perilous properties, which Calatrava says are due to the inadequate quality of previous replacement efforts. He also stated that he does indeed support the city’s plan to replace the existing glass with trachyte stone, which he said matches the both the bridge and the city's existing aesthetic.

Per the architect: “Ponte della Costituzione has been highly praised by the city of Venice and its users since opening in 2008, becoming one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. The original glass paving installed on the bridge consisted of an anti-slippery upper surface that complied with all local regulations ...

Santiago Calatrava’s slippery Venice pedestrian bridge is getting a facelift after multiple injuries

2022-01-04T15:22:00-05:00

Officials in Venice are finally caving to local demands to author significant changes to Santiago Calatrava’s Ponta della Costituzione bridge following years of protest and a rash of recent injuries.

The New York Times is reporting that glass from the pedestrian bridge is going to be removed and replaced with more trachyte stone that will avert any possible future spills which have befallen users thanks to the 94-meter-long structure’s slippery surface.

Located along Venice’s Grand Canal, the bridge was supposed to be a refreshing modern connector to the city’s main rail station but became a liability only a short time after opening in September of 2008.

The completed bridge shortly before opening in 2008. Image © Filippo Leonardi via the Comune di Venezia.

“People hurt themselves, and they sue the administration. We have to intervene.” Venice public works official Francesca Zaccariotto told the Times.

Over the years, the city has tried multiple ways to mitigate the hazards cause...

Wealth is cemented at the top as starchitects continue to see gains

2021-11-22T14:32:00-05:00

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, a new list from therichest.com has ranked the world’s top ten architects in terms of their total net worth.

Big A architecture remunerates extraordinarily well for some, with the total list’s net worth nearing three-quarters of a billion USD.

Norman Foster took the top spot with an estimated net worth amounting to $250 million. The outspoken 86-year-old has had a windfall of big development contracts in the past few years, which has helped him maintain the position he has held for parts of the last two decades.

Frank Gehry came in a distant second with around $100 million in total worth. Gehry was followed quickly by Moshe Safdie, who also hit the $100 mark, although it was not clear which methodology was used to delineate the two (some publicized estimates have Safdie’s worth significantly higher at around $150 million). Oculus designer Santiago Calatrava was the only other architect to hit the nine-figure plateau. His estimated net ...

Santiago Calatrava-designed UAE and Qatar pavilions highlight Expo 2020 Dubai's grand opening

2021-10-01T15:23:00-04:00

Two neighboring Gulf states are taking center stage at the newly opened Expo 2020 Dubai thanks to a pair of pavilions from Santiago Calatrava.

The Spanish architect, who used to have an office in Doha, currently operates out of Dubai and said he was “thrilled” by the honor of being asked to design structures for the nations that he has come to view as a second home.

Qatar Pavilion © Palladium Photodesign - Oliver Schuh + Barbara Burg

Inspired by the crossed swords image embedded in the Qatari coat of arms, Calatrava’s curvilinear contribution uses the metaphor of a dhow to convey the movement and progress of a country eager to showcase its liberalized outlook to the world.

Qatar Pavilion © Palladium Photodesign - Oliver Schuh + Barbara Burg

The 960-square-meter (10,333-square-foot) structure plays host to immersive exhibitions that highlight the country’s history and ambitious 21st-century development goals.

UAE Pavilion © Palladium Photodesign - Oliver Schuh + Barbara Burg

Calatrava...

Calatrava-designed new St. Nicholas National Shrine lights up in ceremony honoring the lives lost during 9/11

2021-09-15T12:56:00-04:00

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church hasn't been open for two decades. The church was located steps way from the World Trade Center, and it was completely destroyed on September 11, 2001. But this week, just ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be reborn.

The 80-year-old church has been rebuilt near the One World Trade Center, and last Friday, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, it was lit up from within for the first time. The original church, located at 155 Cedar Street in Manhattan’s Financial District, was founded in 1916 by Greek immigrants who purchased a tavern as a community house. As noted on the church’s website, this location was one of the first stops for Greek immigrants in America after departing Ellis Island.

During the events of 9/11, the church was destroyed in the collapse of the south tower. In the years that followed, Ground Zero was transformed with the construction of One World Trade Center and a new transportation hub, and an agreement to rebuild St. Nicholas was made between the church and the Port Authority. The resulting decision was to construct the new church at 130 Liberty Street, a location nearby the original site and close to the 9/11 memorial.

Previously on Archinect: Santiago Calatrava's G...

Work halted on world's next tallest tower, Calatrava-designed Dubai Creek Harbour Tower

2020-12-09T13:59:00-05:00

Dubai largest listed developer Emaar Properties has halted new building work after a construction boom in recent years led to oversupply in the Gulf city, its chairman said on Monday. Dubai’s real estate market, where supply has outstripped demand for much of the past decade, has come under additional pressure this year from the coronavirus crisis.

"We as a group have stopped supply," said Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Dubai's largest developer Emaar Properties, after denying similar claims back in April.

The suspension includes work on the new Dubai Creek Harbour mega-development and its centerpiece, the Santiago Calatrava-designed Dubai Creek Harbour Tower which aims to take over the title of world's tallest building from the currently reigning Burj Khalifa — another Emaar property.

The ambitious project broke ground in 2016.

Santiago Calatrava's Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center site to restart construction

2020-01-07T16:26:00-05:00

Two years after a lack of funds halted construction of a marble-clad Greek Orthodox church at New York's World Trade Center site, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Greek Orthodox officials announced plans Thursday to resume construction with the goal of finishing the rebuilding by the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The troubled Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center appears to have received the blessing from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo after the project fell victim to acute cost overruns and had to eventually halt construction in December 2017.

Rendering of the proposed church. Image: Santiago Calatrava/Greek Orthodox Church in America

Under the leadership of the newly formed Friends of St. Nicholas organization, church leaders aim to finish the building by September 11, 2021, the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

"The new entity has been formed to ensure that the sacred space is completed as expeditiously as possible and can begin welcoming visitors from around the world," explains a statement issued by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America after Cuomo's meeting with Archbishop Elpidophoros on Thursday. "The Friends of St. Nicholas will aim to resume construction with a two-year target to complete th...

Calatrava's WTC Oculus continues to leak

2019-09-26T14:07:00-04:00

Few things are as embarrassing for an architect than having a building you’ve designed spring a leak.

Unfortunately for Santiago Calatrava, that is exactly what's happened at the World Trade Center Oculus, a $3.9 billion transit hub built to memorialize the September 11th terrorist attacks. The transit center and subterranean mall contained within the hub are topped by a sculptural pavilion that is itself capped by a 355-foot skylight. The skylight, made up of a dozen glass panels that are designed to open mechanically every year to mark each anniversary of the attacks, has been leaking since at least 2017.

In 2018, according to The Wall Street Journal, a rubber seal that runs along the length of the roof ruptured as the skylight was opened for the annual remembrance ceremonies. Officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have spent over $50,000 since attempting to repair the tear, and plan on spending at least $200,000 more to seal the entire skylight with a waterp...

Santiago Calatrava fined $86,000 over slippery "lobster" bridge in Venice

2019-08-15T13:00:00-04:00

The sweeping structure, which spans the Grand Canal and was the first new bridge to be built in the floating city for 70 years, was designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. But it has been dogged by controversy ever since it was unveiled in 2008.

According to The Telegraph, Santiago Calatrava has been fined €78,000, or roughly $86,000, by the city of Venice due to "negligence" involved in the design of the troubled 300-foot-long Ponte della Constituzione bridge in the city.

According to the report, an Italian judge has ruled that the bridge's structural steel tubes are undersized relative to what is required to span the Grand Canal. Also, the structure's glass steps, supposedly designed to last 20 years, have had a much shorter lifespan, and have required replacement in the decade that has elapsed since the bridge first opened.

View of the underside of Calatrava's "lobster" bridge. Image courtesy of Flickr use C-Monster.

The bridge has been derided by locals, who have likened the crossing's appearance to that of "a lobster," according to The Telegraph. That's not all, however. Initially faulted for the failing to provide accessible means for crossing the stepped bridge by people with disabilities, the design was amended to...

Skylight at Calatrava's WTC Oculus reportedly leaking

2019-05-13T13:29:00-04:00

The skylight that crowns the spiky, $3.9 billion World Trade Center Oculus has sprung a leak. A rubber seal that runs along the spine of the retractable skyline is believed to have ripped during its opening and closing on the 2018 anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, The Wall Street Journal reports.

"Some $30,000 by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was spent this winter to repair the tear using black strips of Flex Tape, but the skylight at the massive transportation hub and shopping mall leaked again on May 5," Curbed summarizes the WSJ's account.

The Santiago Calatrava-designed—and not entirely uncontroversial—Oculus opened to the public on March 3, 2016 and has had repeated leaking issues during construction.

Skylight of Santiago Calatrava's WTC Oculus to reopen for 9/11 anniversary

2018-09-10T17:30:00-04:00

The opening allows for the “Way of Light” to pass through the main hub of the transit hall at 10:28 a.m.—the moment that the North Tower of the WTC collapsed on September 11, 2001. The path along which the light travels inside the hall symbolizes “the light that continues to shine through after the darkness of the tragedy,” says a spokesperson for the Oculus.

Calatrava-designed Dubai Creek Tower completes massive concrete pile cap

2018-06-04T15:11:00-04:00

Concrete placement work for Dubai Creek Tower's pile cap has been completed two months ahead of schedule. A 20m-thick, multi-layered pile cap has been developed for the $1bn (AED3.67bn) Dubai Creek Tower, which is part of the 6km2 Dubai Creek Harbour master development. The pile covers and transfers the load to the foundation barrettes.

Image: Emaar Properties.

Up to 16,000 tons of steel reinforcement, reportedly twice the weight of the Eiffel Tower, have been buried in the sandy Dubai ground to support (what has been promised to become) the world's tallest tower at a yet to be disclosed height: the Dubai Creek Tower designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Frank Gehry + Santiago Calatrava rumored to be designing Hudson Yards buildings

2018-02-19T15:04:00-05:00

WSJ reports that “a person familiar with the matter” claims that Santiago Calatrava and Frank Gehry have been tapped to design buildings for the megaproject’s second phase, due to rise over the west side rail yards [...] There’s little information beyond that, but 2018 is the year that co-developers Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group are due to start work on the platform that will cover the west side yards

According to the Wall Street Journal, Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava may be joining the star-studded lineup of designers working on the Hudson Yards development, which — so far — includes SOM, Foster + Partners, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Rockwell Group, and Thomas Heatherwick, to name a few.

Calatrava's megatall Dubai Creek Tower completes design development

2018-02-15T14:52:00-05:00

The design development programme for Dubai Creek Tower is fully complete. BMT, an international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, announced that it had taken the Emaar Properties project "to 100% design development". Wind engineering experts from BMT have completed aerodynamic shape optimisation studies, wind loading analyses, and façade wind pressure assessments for the project.

Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, stopped by the Santiago Calatrava-designed Dubai Creek Tower megaproject last month and inspected the monumental foundation work of what may soon be the world's tallest building (the final height is still kept a secret but was announced to surpass the 829.8 m/2,722 ft of the current and nearby record holder, the Burj Khalifa).

Calatrava's new Dallas bridge further troubled due to cable flaws

2018-02-02T13:28:00-05:00

The Margaret McDermott Bridge was supposed to be open to pedestrians and bicyclists by now, but the arches over the Trinity River remain closed partially over concerns about broken cables. The issue centers around problems with the cables -- and their resistance to heavy winds -- that connect the arch to the base of the Dallas bridge, which was designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava and his firm.

The $113-million (partially) Calatrava-designed Margaret McDermott Bridge carrying Interstate 30 is part of Dallas' ambitious Trinity River Project.

"City officials are hoping to open the bridge to pedestrians and cyclists in March," Dallas News writes. Meanwhile the finger-pointing between TxDOT, city officials, and the architect is in full swing.

Which architect would be best suited to design Boris Johnson's proposed Channel bridge?

2018-01-22T14:20:00-05:00

The clown king of novelty infrastructure fantasies has once again stolen the limelight with his preposterous plan for a 22-mile bridge across the Channel. [...] But none of this matters. In a world where Johnson got as far as flushing £37m of public money into the Thames on another fantasy project, the Garden Bridge, a great Channel crossing could easily be conjured into being.

The Guardian's architecture critic, Oliver Wainwright, responds to the former London Mayor's suggestion to build a 22-mile bridge across the Channel and physically connect the European Union with the brexiting island kingdom (on top of the already existing 31.35-mile Channel tunnel).

Let's just say, Wainwright isn't a fan and pens an angry roundup of prominent architects that either have designed other Johnson mega-visions, like Heatherwick's Thames Garden Bridge and Lord Foster's Thames Hub, or have a history of going over the initially proposed project budget a tad or a thousand.

Calatrava-designed Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center site runs into funding issues, halts construction

2017-12-18T15:33:00-05:00

Construction at the site of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox National Shrine at Ground Zero in New York City has been halted by the main construction company because the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has defaulted on payments, according to a letter sent by the company to its subcontractors working at the site.

Image: Greek Orthodox Church in America

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America acknowledged the payment issues and responded in a statement: "In light of recent financial difficulties at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and in order to make certain that all operations and funds are being correctly managed, this difficult yet necessary step has been taken. The Archdiocese is confidently hopeful that construction will recommence in the very near future and has been assured by Skanska —the construction company responsible for building the church— that they are looking forward to the rescinding of this temporary suspension to continue working together in cooperation with the Archdiocese for the completion of the building project."

Image: Greek Orthodox Church in America

New images of world's next tallest tower, Calatrava-designed Dubai Creek Tower

2017-08-18T13:38:00-04:00

Building within the 2.3 square-mile Dubai Creek Harbour complex, Emaar is looking to eclipse its most famous creation the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure since 2010. To do so has required laying 236ft deep foundation piles—a world record—set to be capped with 1.59 million cubic feet of concrete. When completed, the 3,045ft tower will best the Burj by a massive 322ft.

The Emaar Properties and Dubai Holdings joint venture is inspired by the lily flower and mosque minarets, say its developers, and will feature a 68-mile array of supporting cables. Swiss-Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has designed a 360-degree observation deck and a capacious Hanging Gardens of Babylon-style floor into the structure, with views over the nearby Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.

With the new tower, the developer is looking to beat the record height of its most famous creation the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure since 2010, by 322 feet. Located within the 2.3 square-mile Dubai Creek Harbor complex, the Dubai Creek Tower required the deepest foundation piles ever made—set to be capped with 1.59 million cubic feet of concrete.

Image courtesy of Emaar Properties

An image from Emaar Properties dated August 13 shows workers constructing the pile cap frame on to which 1.59 million cubic feet of concrete will be poured.

The video "Oculus" surveys the history, context, and execution of Calatrava's transit hub

2017-02-07T18:24:00-05:00

How does Santiago Calatrava's Oculus encapsulate the complex history and significance of its site? In this brief video from filmmaker Jeff Durkin, Calatrava's elaborate transit hub canopy is sited in its aesthetic and social contexts via a series of carefully selected voice-over news clips and aesthetic commentary. Here, the horror of 9/11, the beauty of human perception, and sweeping shots of the architecture itself are layered to create this filmmaker's interpretation of what the Oculus is. Watch it here:

£1 billion scheme for London's Greenwich Peninsula designed by Calatrava unveiled

2017-02-02T10:02:00-05:00

Peninsula Place, part of the Greenwich Peninsula redevelopment, is a billion pound landmark building, designed by architect, artist, and engineer, Santiago Calatrava. He was joined at today’s press conference by Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London), Peter Murray (NLA), and Richard Margree and Sammy Lee (Knight Dragon).

The conference this morning took place in the Now Gallery, which is part of the Gateway Pavilions. The space, which is on the doorstep of North Greenwich tube station, was designed by Marks Barfield, and is (as described by Margree) “a deliberate statement of intent by Knight Dragon as to what we wanted to do here, and the quality that we will bring.” This initial building - the literal and metaphorical gateway - is one which will set the tone for the development. Knight Dragon's overarching aim for the 150 acre site is to become an attractive and thriving community of seven neighbourhoods, and is why the team approached Santiago Calatrava almost two years ago to create some...

Calatrava's Peace Bridge in Calgary keeps getting vandalized and the repair costs are adding up

2016-11-16T14:04:00-05:00

After two more glass panels were ruined on the Peace Bridge, Calgary's top transportation official revealed that vandals have, overall, caused more than $200,000 in damage to the bridge, forcing the city to upgrade the security camera system in the area. The helical steel pedestrian bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and spanning the Bow River, was closed for several weeks this summer while a contractor replaced half a dozen cracked panels.

Apparently, eight glass panel have been replaced in total since the bridge opened in 2012. Glass handrail panels have been shattered. And, earlier this year, all the light fixtures had to be replaced because the original ones kept burning out during the cold winter months.

As a deterrent, officials have had to install an extensive surveillance system. Now, they're planning to copy a move made on a nearby bridge and install some speakers that will bark at you if you loiter for too long. "Sir, move along," the loudspeaker will politely intone.

The bridge was controversial at the get-go for its high price tag—$24.5 million. It was approved mere days before the 2008 financial crash. That being said, the Peace Bridge has proved to be quite popular with both locals and tourists.

I'm not trying to pin the blame for these cost overruns on Mr. Calatrava himself, but, wow, the guy just can't seem to catch a break:

Groundbreaking for Calatrava-designed Dubai Tower — (potentially) the world's tallest building

2016-10-11T16:03:00-04:00

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on Monday "broke ground" on the world’s tallest tower – a structure that will define Expo 2020 as the Eiffel Tower defined Paris for its 1889 World Fair. "The new tower sets another challenge in the history of human architecture – a race the UAE deserves to lead," said Sheikh Mohammed [...]. The futuristic design, chosen by Sheikh Mohammed, was by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls [...].

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Dubai's ruler, laying the foundation stone for the 'The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour' project on Monday. (Image: WAM)

The structure's final height has not yet been revealed — the 1km-high Kingdom Tower, currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is also reaching for the title of 'World's Tallest Building.'

The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour project previously in the Archinect news:

Calatrava's megatall Dubai tower: engineers complete wind tests and seismic studies

2016-07-28T14:05:00-04:00

[...] has completed advanced wind tunnel tests on The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, which is set to be 100 metres taller than the 828-metre Burj Khalifa when complete. Emaar said the wind tests were crucial in defining the final height and design aspects, while the project’s Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava Valls added that they "were an important component in the structural design stage, and we have deployed innovative engineering techniques to confirm the strength of the new icon".

The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour project previously in the Archinect news: