Full-scale construction activity, will start this next year. Calatrava backed out, refusing to take actions to comply with Parsons (the lead contractor) and Denver International Airport (DIA), to make the project feasible, as far as construction costs go. Parsons and Calatrava were butting heads, which escelated to a level of nasty emails being exchanged between the two companies, over the project.
Denver International Airport had paid Calatrava over $13 million, for his designs. Calatrava agreed to allow Denver International, to move forward, as planned with his designs, as long as a few "key signiture" aspects are removed. Aspects which officals claim no one will even be able to tell, they were removed, unless you are an archetect enthusiast.
Parsons will also make the changes that were needed, to keep the design inside of the $500 million budget. Calatrava's design would have cost north of the $650 million figure. An amount that airlines operating out of Denver International Airport were very concerned about. If the project costs too much and it impacts airport landing fees, airlines said they may be forced to make cuts in service at DIA.
DIA assures the airlines, that this terminal expansion and rail station, is being funded from airports resources, which will not impact landing fees. However, in order to fully fund this project without increasing landing fees, it must be kept at or below the $500 million budget. A price Calatrava was not willing to scale his design down, to fit within the budget means. Thus his exit from the project.
More updates to come...
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