The Lionshead Skier Bridge - Vail, CO
The Lionshead skier bridge was at first seen merely as a way for Vail Resorts Development Company to prove to the town that it was quite serious about moving forward with Vail's Billion Dollar renewal. The existing bridge was deemed to be unsafe, and VRDC wanted an inexpensive strategy for moving skiers from the ski slopes south of the Gore Creek to what, at the time, was a dingy part of town.
Robert Fitzgerald and his team convinced the company that this was more than merely a bridge. He argued that, if they really were going to have him design the ArraBelle at Vail Square to replace the old clock tower, parking facility and worn out gondola building; this "gesture" would become the threshold from skiing to resort living; a doorway back into the world of après ski and an exciting nightlife; a transition from the mountain terrain to the urbane village soon to be constructed within one of North America's finest resorts. The company was convinced and Fitzgerald went on to produce an award winning, 40 foot wide, skiable, long-span arched structure utilizing Core-10 steel, stone abutments and decorative iron embellishments. When the ArraBelle was completed a few years later, the bridge received gateway-like entry pylons similar to those used elsewhere in the streetscape design to further link it to the overall renewal of this part of town. The ArraBelle's third floor pedestrian bridge, finished in matte silver and glass, was also later modeled after this strong and noble crossing mechanism.
Photos
The Lionshead skier bridge was at first seen merely as a way for Vail Resorts Development Company to prove to the town that it was quite serious about moving forward with Vail's Billion Dollar renewal. The existing bridge was deemed to be unsafe, and VRDC wanted an inexpensive strategy for moving skiers from the ski slopes south of the Gore Creek to what, at the time, was a dingy part of town.
Robert Fitzgerald and his team convinced the company that this was more than merely a bridge. He argued that, if they really were going to have him design the ArraBelle at Vail Square to replace the old clock tower, parking facility and worn out gondola building; this "gesture" would become the threshold from skiing to resort living; a doorway back into the world of après ski and an exciting nightlife; a transition from the mountain terrain to the urbane village soon to be constructed within one of North America's finest resorts. The company was convinced and Fitzgerald went on to produce an award winning, 40 foot wide, skiable, long-span arched structure utilizing Core-10 steel, stone abutments and decorative iron embellishments. When the ArraBelle was completed a few years later, the bridge received gateway-like entry pylons similar to those used elsewhere in the streetscape design to further link it to the overall renewal of this part of town. The ArraBelle's third floor pedestrian bridge, finished in matte silver and glass, was also later modeled after this strong and noble crossing mechanism.
