2005 AIA GOLD MEDAL: Split between New York City, Doha, and Zürich, Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava is lauded for his neo-futuristic designs (that also have a tendency of going way over-budget) such as the recently completed WTC Transportation Hub.
Firm Description
FROM THE FIRM:
Santiago Calatrava, an internationally celebrated architect, engineer and artist, launched the firm of Calatrava Valls S.A. in Zurich in 1983, after being awarded the commission to design and build the new Stadelhofen Station - the key center-city node in Zurich's suburban rail network. Soon after, he won the competition to design and build the Bac de Roda Bridge in Barcelona, Spain which was commissioned for the 1992 Olympic Games. This was the first of many projects that helped establish his international reputation. The Zurich office continues to execute world renown architecture such as the Liege TGV Train Station, the TGV Train Station in Reggio-Emilia, as well as the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio De Janeiro.
In 1989, Calatrava opened a second office in Paris, France to oversee design and construction of the Lyon-Satolas Airport TGV Railway Station outside of Lyon. A Valencia office was opened in 1991 to support the growing work in his birth country. Notable projects include: the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Sondica Airport in Bilbao, Oriente Station in Lisbon, the Tenerife Opera House in the Canary Islands, and the Athens Olympic Sports Complex.
Calatrava's first project in the United States, the extension to the Milwaukee Art Museum, was completed in 2001. In 2003 Calatrava opened a new office, Festina Lente LLP, in New York City to design the World Trade Center Transportation Hub at Ground Zero. In the ensuing twelve years, he has projected designs for the Performing Arts Center for Zuan Ye University outside of Taipei, and has realized the Innovation, Science and Technology building and Master Plan of Florida Polytechnic University. Calatrava maintains a satellite office in Doha, Qatar, to monitor and coordinate execution of his design of the Sharq Crossing across the Doha Bay - a 12 kilometer project which consists of three bridges and five tunnels with multiple cultural amenities.
