Perelman Performing Arts Center
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Performing arts |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City , United States |
Key people | Khady Kamara (executive director), Michael Bloomberg (board chair), Bill Rauch (artistic director) |
| Products | Theater, dance, music, opera, film screenings, concerts |
| Website | www |
The Perelman Performing Arts Center, commonly known as PAC NYC, is a versatile performing arts center situated at the northeast corner of the World Trade Center complex in Manhattan, New York City. Positioned at the intersection of Vesey, Fulton, and Greenwich Streets in Lower Manhattan, the venue bears the name of billionaire Ronald Perelman, who contributed $75 million toward its $275 million construction budget.
Initially announced in 2004 by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) as part of the post-September 11 attacks revitalization of the World Trade Center site, the project originally engaged architects Frank Gehry and Snøhetta. Nonetheless, after delays, the original plans were replaced in 2015 by a new design team led by Joshua Ramus and Davis Brody Bond, with structural engineering handled by Magnusson Klemencic Associates. Groundbreaking for subterranean work commenced in August 2017, followed by above-ground construction starting in 2020. The center officially opened on September 13, 2023, encompassing roughly across three levels.
Initial Concept
Following the destruction of the original World Trade Center towers in 2001, redevelopment efforts incorporated a performing arts center within Daniel Libeskind’s 2003 Memory Foundations master plan. In October 2004, LMDC selected Gehry Partners LLP alongside Norway’s Snøhetta to design the facility. Gehry proposed a box-shaped structure intended to accommodate the Joyce Theater after the Signature Theatre Company withdrew due to spatial and financial constraints. Then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg committed $100 million in federal funding toward construction in 2010.
Maggie Boepple was appointed president in March 2012. However, progress was hindered by financial and design challenges, further complicated by a temporary PATH station entrance occupying part of the site. In February 2014, David Lan, artistic director of London’s Young Vic Theatre, joined as consulting artistic director to assist in redefining the center’s mission to focus on original theater, music, and dance productions within three small adaptable theaters.
Revised Approach
By September 2014, Gehry Associates had withdrawn from the project. Efforts shifted toward selecting a new architect and finalizing programming with an anticipated opening in 2019. Gehry’s design was ultimately abandoned following board rejection, with plans to evaluate proposals from three alternative architectural firms.
In July 2015, the construction budget was reduced from $350 million to $200 million. The LMDC made its $99 million federal grant contingent upon delivering an affordable design and securing a feasible private fundraising strategy. In November 2015, Joshua Ramus of REX was appointed as design architect, with Davis Brody Bond serving as executive architect.
The permanent PATH station building opened on March 3, 2016, allowing demolition of the temporary entrance in August and clearing space for the Performing Arts Center’s construction.
On June 29, 2016, billionaire Ronald Perelman contributed $75 million toward construction costs, endowment, and operations; this generosity led to naming rights for the center. Additional funding included $130 million from Michael Bloomberg (revealed in 2023) and $100 million from LMDC. In September 2016, Barbra Streisand was appointed chairwoman of the board, coinciding with the release of concept renderings that received favorable architectural critiques. Construction faced delays in March 2017 due to funding disagreements between LMDC and the Port Authority.
Construction
The construction of the below-ground parking facility, accessible via Vesey Street, commenced in August 2017. Initially, the main building's construction was slated to begin in 2018, with an anticipated completion and inauguration date set for 2020. In February 2018, the Port Authority awarded a 99-year lease to the Performing Arts Center and appointed Bill Rauch as its artistic director. The first delivery of structural steel took place in April 2018. Early that year, work experienced a short pause due to financial disagreements between the Port Authority and LMDC but resumed shortly thereafter. By December 2018, the center secured $89 million in funding from LMDC alongside the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
By July 2019, all subterranean construction was finalized, and steel assembly began later that year. Leslie Koch succeeded Boepple as president of the Perelman Performing Arts Center in 2019. At that time, the center's opening was projected for 2021. The chief designer characterized the facility as resembling "several buildings being erected within a single structure." The building reached its highest point on September 11, 2020, coinciding with the 19th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In October 2022, Khady Kamara from Second Stage Theater was named executive director of the center.
Opening and operation
By mid-2023, Sciame Construction, acting as construction manager, completed all testing and finishing tasks ahead of the center’s scheduled opening on September 15, 2023. The Perelman Performing Arts Center held its ribbon-cutting event on September 13, two days before opening to the public, with the inaugural performance planned for September 19. The total project expenditure reached $560 million. Executive director Kamara highlighted efforts to draw audiences to the World Trade Center area through diverse entertainment offerings. Operating under the brand PAC NYC, the venue intended to present a wide array of programming including dance, film screenings, concerts, opera, and theatrical productions. The Metropolis restaurant, managed by Marcus Samuelsson, launched within the center in November 2023. For PAC NYC’s branding, Joseph Lebus crafted a bespoke typeface and a distinctive square logo.
During its inaugural season spanning 2023–2024, PAC NYC showcased events such as Trinity Church Wall Street’s concert series Refuge, a piano recital by Mahani Teave, the opera Watch Night by Tamar-kali and Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Looking ahead to 2024, PAC NYC announced The Democracy Cycle, a commissioning initiative for 25 new works over five years; eight of these premiered during the 2024–2025 season.
Architecture
The Perelman Performing Arts Center’s design was led by REX as lead architect, with Davis Brody Bond serving as executive architect. Acoustic consulting was provided by Threshold Acoustics, while theatrical consulting came from Charcoalblue. Structural engineering was carried out by Magnusson Klemencic Associates alongside Robert Silman Associates. Engineering services covering MEP systems, fire protection, IT infrastructure, and security were supplied by Jaros, Baum & Bolles. Sciame Construction, LLC acted as construction manager throughout the project. Additional significant contributors included David Rockwell’s Rockwell Group responsible for restaurant and lobby interior design; Charcoalblue overseeing theater design; and Tillotson Design Associates handling architectural lighting solutions.
Exterior
The Center covers an area of and reaches a height of , positioned atop a black granite base measuring tall. Its exterior is adorned with 5,000 panels of Portuguese marble featuring veined, lozenge-shaped designs that glow amber after dark. Each marble slab is thick and is protected by glass on both faces to enhance energy conservation and security measures. The facade, devoid of windows, preserves a dignified boundary between visitors attending performances and those paying respects at the memorial. Inside, a corridor surrounds the auditoriums, where chandeliers illuminate the facade from within during nighttime.
Interior
Spanning three levels, the venue occupies of space. Constructed over the foundations of a previously planned but unbuilt facility, it rests on just seven connection points due to the intricate infrastructure beneath. The ground floor accessible to the public includes a restaurant and bar area designed for intermission gatherings. On the second floor are rehearsal spaces and dressing rooms, while the top level accommodates three theaters: the largest seating 450 and named for businessman John Eugene Zuccotti, a 250-seat auditorium honoring director Mike Nichols, and a smaller 99-seat venue bearing philanthropist Doris Duke’s name.
Each theater is equipped with movable walls that enable space expansion or merging, collectively allowing for an audience capacity between approximately 1,000 and 1,200. To counteract vibrations from nearby subway lines, the theaters rest on pads measuring in thickness. The floors and ceilings can be adjusted to create more than 60 different seating arrangements, including a unified auditorium with seating for 950. Heavy retractable "guillotine doors," weighing up to , separate the theaters and slide into mechanical housings above.
Operation
As of 2022, Khady Kamara holds the position of executive director at PAC NYC. The board is chaired by former mayor Michael Bloomberg, with Bill Rauch serving as artistic director. The center’s first group of artistic advisers featured prominent individuals such as Murielle Borst-Tarrant, Ty Defoe, Wendall Harrington, David Henry Hwang, Lisa Kron, David Lan, Joe Melillo, Nico Muhly, Lynn Nottage, Arturo O'Farrill, Jason Samuels Smith, Sonya Tayeh, Julie Taymor, Ivo van Hove, Alexandria Wailes, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.
Reception
Architect Justin Davidson commended the center for delivering "spectacle without garishness," noting its bold yet tasteful architectural presence. Peter Marks from The Washington Post likened the marble-clad building to an enormous sugar cube or large stone dice situated on the Ground Zero site. The New York Observer highlighted the Perelman Center as a "beacon of potential," affirming New York’s prominent role in the international arts scene and Manhattan’s position as a creative epicenter.
The Performing Arts Center has been recognized with various design accolades including the Society of Registered American Architects New York Special Award for Innovation in Cultural Architecture (2022), the American Institute of Architects New York Honor Award for Projects (2022), the Chicago Athenaeum American Architectural Award (2021), and the Architizer A+ Award in the Unbuilt Cultural Category (2019).