Perelman Performing Arts Center Opens at Ground Zero

The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) has opened at 251 Fulton Street, Manhattan, as the final piece of the World Trade Center's rebirth after 9/11. Designed by REX, the building is clad in Portuguese marble and glass tiles, creating a translucent, floating effect. Named after philanthropist Ronald O. Perelman, the center is led by executive director Khady Kamara and artistic director Bill Rauch. Its inaugural season begins September 19, 2023, featuring a flexible auditorium with over 60 configurations, advanced acoustics, and technology. Programming includes the Part of Refuge concert series, a photography exhibition by Devin Pickering, and the Tribeca Festival in spring 2024. The center also houses a restaurant by David Rockwell, overseen by chef Marcus Samuelsson, with a terrace and lobby for free performances. The PAC joins Santiago Calatrava's Oculus and Snøhetta's Memorial Pavilion at the site, fulfilling a vision of former mayor Mike Bloomberg to use performing arts for regeneration.