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Three Projects by Santiago Calatrava: Denver International Airport, Peace Bridge, and The Museum of Tomorrow

Santiago Calatrava’s addition to the Denver International Airport will add a train station, a 500-room hotel and conference center, and a multi-function civic plaza complete with retail and concessions. The rail station, plaza, and hotel will form a highly integrated and dynamic complex, located directly south of the iconic tent-peaked Jeppeson Terminal. All renderings courtesy of Santiago Calatrava, LLC.

Denver International Airport is currently one of the few major airports in the world without a passenger rail link to the downtown city core. Calatrava’s project will add light rail service in a white, vaulted train shed to the airport.

Calatrava and the airport are collaborating to provide a signature bridge and terminal station as part of the new commuter rail service between Denver International Airport and downtown Denver’s Union Station.

The new hotel and conference center are key components of this new development, along with a civic plaza that provides restaurants and commercial retail, as well as space for special programs including exhibitions, art fairs, and other events.

The design includes Calatrava’s signature arcs and sculptural forms grounded in building engineering.

Calatrava’s Peace Bridge in Calgary will connect the Eau Claire area and Hillhurst-Sunnyside neighborhoods across the Bow River. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge aims to make urban living more amenable in Calgary’s burgeoning downtown district, which is forecasted to add an additional 40,000 full-time residents by 2035.

The bridge (painted a bright Canadian red) uses a helixical structure that requires no vertical elements—arches, suspension cables, or masts. It’s currently under construction.

The Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro will be a sustainability and science-focused museum that’s part of the ambitious "Marvelous Port" urban design project which will transform Rio's historical waterfront into a thriving cultural and residential community.

The two-story museum features a cantilevered roof and facade with moving elements that extends almost to the full length of the pier, emphasizing the extension into the bay, while minimizing the building's width.

Located on the highly prominent Pier Maua, the museum is an integral part of the urban revitalization commitment that the city made to the International Olympic Committee during its successful bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.

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