Santiago Calatrava, a celebrated architect, engineer, and artist, launched Calatrava Valls S.A. in Zurich in 1983, after being commissioned to design and build the new Stadelhofen Station - the key city-center node in Zurich's suburban rail network.

Soon after, he won the competition to design and build the Bac de Roda Bridge in Barcelona, Spain. This was the first of many projects that helped establish his international reputation. Calatrava’s Zurich-based office continues to execute world-renowned architecture such as the railway train stations in Liège, Belgium and Reggio-Emilia, Italy, as well as the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio De Janeiro.

In 1989, Calatrava opened a second office in Paris, France. A Valencia office was opened in 1991 to support the growing work in his birth country.