There’s been a lot of talk recently about the Trinity. Wick and Councilwoman Angela Hunt have been going at this week on FrontBurner. Today Jim Schutze had something to say about it. Then George Rodrigue over at the DMN responded, calling the DO a “sexually oriented tabloid.”
Here, in this point, I’d just like to tell you that Santiago Calatrava, designer of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, made a surprise visit to Dallas last night. For all I know, he might still be here. (See you at AFI tonight, Santy?) And I would just like to point out that he looked sharp. And that the Trinity Trust will hold another fundraiser on the Continental Bridge, like the one they held in 2007. This one will be called “Launch the Steel,” and it’ll be on Friday, September 25. Full details after the jump.
The Trinity Trust Hosts A Special Visit with Santiago Calatrava, Award-Winning Architect and Designer of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
DALLAS, Texas, March 26, 2009 — On March 25, Santiago Calatrava, internationally known award-winning architect, artist and engineer, made a surprise visit to Dallas. The Trinity Trust Foundation hosted a special reception for Calatrava to meet with 200 of The Trinity Trust’s board members, supporters, Rat Pack and River Rats with Spanish tapas and fine Texas wines.
Dr. Gail Thomas, president of The Trinity Trust, welcomed everyone. “Our city is better because Tina and Santiago Calatrava came to visit us this week. They love the warmth of Dallas, and Calatrava’s bridges will change the Dallas skyline very soon.”
Thomas introduced Lynn McBee, a board member of The Trinity Trust, who announced an exciting fundraising event. “We had so much fun with 1,100 of us on the Continental Bridge in 2007 that we’re hosting another fundraiser called ‘Launch the Steel’ on Friday, September 25, again on the same bridge, which will become a pedestrian bridge once the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is built. National Honorary Chairs are U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Local Honorary Chairs are Mary McDermott Cook, Lyda Hill, Al Hill Jr. and Alinda Wikert.” McBee is the Event Chair, and Christy Berry is the Steering Committee Chair.
Mary McDermott Cook, chair of The Trinity Trust Foundation, introduced Calatrava. “Santiago is a talented and brilliant architect and artist, having designed the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, one I recently saw, and many buildings of great artistic significance. He’s also designed award-winning bridges around the globe, and he’s building the first [of] two vehicular bridges in the United States right here in Dallas, including my mom’s bridge, the Margaret McDermott Bridge.”
As the designer of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge-currently under construction-Calatrava shared his excitement about the arrival of the steel in Texas and urged everyone to work together to show the community what Dallas is building.
Calatrava said, “The Trinity River Corridor Project is historically a pioneer project, just as Texas was with medicine in the 1940s, and look where you are today with medicine. You’re one of the most important centers in the world right now.” About the bridges, he said, “What makes the bridges unique is that they will be a part of the skyline of Dallas. They are the first steps of centering the city, with the Trinity River on both sides, and calling the city back to the river as part of a Central Park.”
He added, “The two bridges speak the same language with the archs. There are two different relationships-one with one arch, and the other with four arches-and they complement each other.”
The arrival of the steel in Dallas in early April will add to the community excitement. “The steel will be here for people to see, and the people will become excited once they see the progress of the bridge,” said Calatrava.
The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, along with the Margaret McDermott Bridge (I-30), are the first vehicular bridges designed by Calatrava in the United States. The Hunt Hill Bridge will eventually connect Woodall Rodgers (SH Spur 366) in downtown Dallas to Singleton in West Dallas across the Trinity River. Once built, the Calatrava bridges will become Dallas’ international signature landmarks for the $2 billion Trinity River Corridor Project.
A $2 billion public works project, the Trinity River Corridor Project is one of the largest such projects in the nation. Plans include a meandering river, downtown lakes, an island, wetlands, hike and bike trails, a whitewater course, riding paths and nature walks through the 6,000-acre Great Trinity Forest.
