Calatrava Unveils Rail Station At Denver International Airport

Renowned architect <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/06/22/santiago-calatrava-unveils-green-museum-of-tomorrow-in-rio/" target="_blank">Santiago Calatrava</a> just unveiled his design for a new rail station at the Denver International Airport as part of the location's South Terminal Redevelopment Program. The new expansion will add a rail link from downtown Denver that terminates at the airport as well as a hotel, a retail plaza and a rail bridge over Pena Boulevard. Calatrava, who has become known for his sweeping arches and impressive facades (and particularly, for his <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/09/28/calatravas-high-speed-rail-station-opens-in-liege/">rail stations</a>), will add his iconic style to the iconic airport as well the city of Denver.

The new expansion will fulfill the original 1995 plans for the airport to have a commuter rail line and on-site hotel.

The FasTrack line will run from downtown Denver's Union Station across a new rail bridge over Pena Boulevard, terminating at the airport.

Travelers will arrive in an open-air train station under bright, translucent vaulted space before entering the main airport.

The expansion will also include a new retail and commercial plaza with grand views of the Rocky Mountains back to the west.

Travelers will walk through these vaulted and daylit spaces and enter the main arrivals area where they will continue on through security into the Jeppesen Terminal

The new rail line, station, twin-tower hotel, and plaza will be built along the same axis as the airport terminal.

Santiago Calatrava was in Denver on Thursday, July 29th to unveil the design for the South Terminal Redevelopment Project.

Calatrava has made a name for himself designing impressive arches and daylit rail stations and bridges.

The hotel, which was designed by Gensler, will have 500 rooms in two towers on either side of the station.

Calatrava's design for the new expansion is meant to complement the existing Rocky Mountain-inspired terminal, providing space to view the peaks, but also adding a more international flair to the airport.

This first phase of the redevelopment project will include the train station, plaza, hotel and rail bridge and is estimated to cost $650m.

A second phase of the redevelopment project will include a new parking structure and renovations to the Jeppesen Terminal Great Hall and is estimated at $250m.

Denver is one of the few international airports that does not have a rail link from the city core.

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