Santiago Calatrava's Samuel Beckett Bridge Opens in Time for Christmas Cheer

NEW YORK, December 10 - World-renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava announced today that his
Samuel Beckett Bridge was officially inaugurated in Dublin earlier this
morning. Designed by Calatrava to reduce vehicular traffic in Dublin's city
centre, the Samuel Beckett Bridge unites the north and south sides of the
River Liffey, creating a necessary link between the two regions.

The celebrated architect was commissioned by the Dublin City Council to
design a signature bridge that would serve as a valuable addition to the
city's transport infrastructure. Calatrava's Samuel Beckett Bridge features
four lanes, two for traffic with cycle tracks and pedestrian paths on either
side, as well as room for trams, to be implemented in the future. To avoid
disturbing maritime traffic, Calatrava also designed the bridge with the
ability to rotate 90 degrees horizontally, enabling ships to pass. This is
the second signature bridge that the architect has designed for the city of
Dublin; the first being the James Joyce Bridge which was completed in 2003.

"It's rare that an artist is able to contribute to the blueprint of such
a historically rich city and I am deeply honored to provide Dublin with not
one, but two signature bridges," said Santiago Calatrava, designer of the
Samuel Beckett and James Joyce Bridges. "While working on the James Joyce
Bridge, I developed a deep affinity for the people of Dublin, and I wanted my
next bridge to celebrate that connection. It is my sincere hope that the
Samuel Beckett Bridge will serve as a monument to Dublin, honoring its past,
present and future."

For Calatrava, his vision was a challenge; as he was faced with the task
of creating a bridge that aesthetically belonged to the present, yet that
also evoked a sense of the past. Envisioning the bridge as a harp, a
historical and prominent symbol of Ireland, with steel cables as its strings,
the architect was able to infuse modern elements with traditional
significance. The result is a bridge that both functionally and artistically
pays homage to Dublin and its people. However, for Calatrava the greatest
honor is his.

"My deepest source of pride is in the knowledge that my work will bear
the names of two of the world's greatest literary talents," said Calatrava.
"Samuel Beckett and James Joyce hold great significance to the history and
culture of Dublin. As authors they sought to inspire their readers and
encourage them to express their own creative freedom. It is my hope that both
the Samuel Beckett and James Joyce Bridges evoke the spirit of these iconic
artists."

To celebrate the official inauguration of the Samuel Beckett Bridge, the
Lord Mayor of Dublin presided over a ceremony, which took place today,
Thursday, December 10th, at Sir John Rogersons Quay.

MEDIA CONTACT

For additional information on Santiago Calatrava and/or the Samuel
Beckett Bridge please contact Jacqueline Platt at Corbin-Hillman
Communications at +1-646-233-0465 or Jacqueline@corbinpr.com.

ABOUT SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

Santiago Calatrava's name has been most closely associated with his
celebrated designs of bridges and transportation centers built throughout the
world. He recently completed his design for the new World Trade Center
Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan and in 2010 will unveil the Agora, a
multifunctional complex within Calatrava's famed City of Arts and Science in
Valencia. The building signifies the culmination of a 20-year-design and
building project that, literally, created a city from a vast wasteland.
Amongst his collection of internationally recognized work is the expansion of
the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin (2001), the Athens Olympic Sports
Complex (2004), the Light Rail Train Bridge in Jerusalem (2007), the Quarto
Ponte sul Canal Grande in Venice (2008) and the Liege-Guillemins TGV Railway
Station in Belgium (2009).

Jacqueline Platt, Corbin-Hillman Communications, +1-646-233-0465 , Jacqueline at corbinpr.com