Santiago Calatrava's exit from DIA: Westword's Kenny Be and Michael Paglia weigh in

After receiving $13 million to design Denver International Airport's new south terminal hotel and commuter rail station, world-famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava abruptly quit the project because it lacked sufficient funding. Rumors about his exit had been flying around for weeks, but it became official earlier this month when Santiago's...

By Westword Staff

September 21, 2011

Audio By Carbonatix

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After receiving $13 million to design Denver International Airport's new south terminal hotel and commuter rail station, world-famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava abruptly quit the project because it lacked sufficient funding. Rumors about his exit had been flying around for weeks, but it became official earlier this month when Santiago's spouse and business manager, Robertina Calatrava, announced it.

Westword art critic, Michael Paglia, hates to say he told you so, but...he told you so. Paglia saw this coming back in May and predicted it during a Design Council-sponsored panel at the Denver Art Museum. For his take, see this week's Art Beat.

Westword cartoonist Kenny Be is already looking to the future, however. In fact, since Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and DIA manager Kim Day claim to own Calatrava's designs, they plan to complete his world-class architectural vision on time and within Denver's Third World-class budget. Of course the project can be done for less money!

But it'll look a little different. Click here to see Kenny's Cut-Rate Calatrava prediction.

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