Performing Arts Center (Manhattan)

The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center (PACWTC), also called the Performing Arts Center, is a multi-space performing arts center under construction at the northeast corner of the World Trade Center complex in Manhattan, New York City. The Performing Arts Center is located at the intersection of Vesey, Fulton, and Greenwich Streets in Lower Manhattan. The building is named for billionaire Ronald Perelman, who donated $75 million to its construction.

Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center
Construction progress, August 2020
General information
StatusTopped-out
LocationFulton Street
Manhattan, New York City
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°42′45.3″N 74°0′44.5″W
Construction startedAugust 31, 2017
Completed2021 (estimated)
Cost$275 million
OwnerPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
Height138 feet (42 m)
Design and construction
ArchitectJoshua Prince-Ramus (REX), Davis Brody Bond
Website
Official website
Rebuilding of the
World Trade Center
One WTC
2–7 WTC
Other elements

Plans for the Performing Arts Center were first announced by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) in 2004 as part of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site after the September 11 attacks. Gehry Partners LLP and Snøhetta were selected as the original designers, but plans were reportedly stalled over financing and design, as well as the presence of the temporary entrance to the PATH train's World Trade Center station on the site.

The original design was scrapped by September 2014, and Joshua Prince-Ramus and Davis Brody Bond were selected as architects the next year. After further financing issues were resolved and the PATH station entrance was relocated, below-ground construction began in August 2017, followed by the construction of the above-ground frame in 2020. It is scheduled to be completed in 2021. When completed, the Performing Arts Center will include approximately 90,000 square feet (8,400 m2) across three floors.

Original design
Original Gehry model

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) announced on October 12, 2004, that Gehry Partners LLP and Snøhetta, an architectural firm from Norway, would design the Performing Arts Center.[1][2][3] Gehry's proposal, which incorporated a boxlike design, would have housed the Joyce Theater, as the Signature Theater Company had dropped out due to space constraints and cost limitations.[3]

Plans for the construction of the Performing Arts Center were reportedly stalled over financing and design, although construction was also hindered by the presence of the entrance to the PATH train's temporary World Trade Center station within its footprint.[4][5][6]

In February 2014, David Lan, Artistic Director of London's Young Vic Theatre, was announced as Consulting Artistic Director of the PACWTC, a position he will hold simultaneously with his Young Vic leadership. The venue's mission was revised to originate works of theater, music, and dance in three small flexible theaters.[7]

Redesign
PACWTC current basic design, as of 2015

By September 2014, Gehry Associates were no longer connected with the project.[8] Plans were proceeding for the choice of a new architect and future programming for a 2019 opening.[9] Gehry's design was scrapped; the board of the Performing Arts Center planned to choose a new design from one of three other architects. This change came after Maggie Boepple, the president of the Performing Arts Center appointed in 2012, was said to have disapproved of Gehry's work.[8]

In July 2015, it was reported that the construction budget for the Performing Arts Center was to be reduced from $350 million to $200 million. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) announced at a board meeting that the $99 million in federal funds committed to the project was contingent on the arts center's leaders’ "producing an affordable design and a viable plan for raising the remaining money from private sources."[10] In November 2015, the Performing Arts Center announced that they had awarded the design architect contract to Joshua Prince-Ramus of Rex Architecture P.C., with the firm Davis Brody Bond to serve as executive architect.[11]

On March 3, 2016, the permanent PATH station building opened one block to the south, and the temporary entrance was closed.[12][13] The opening of the new station building allowed the temporary station entrance to be demolished in August of that year. This, in turn, allowed the construction of the Performing Arts Center on the site.[14]

On June 29, 2016, billionaire Ronald Perelman donated $75 million to the construction and endowment of the Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center. Because of his contribution to the facility, the center was renamed after him.[15] In September 2016, Barbra Streisand was named the Center's Chairwoman of the board. The concept art for the new building was revealed that month, with mostly positive reviews from architecture critics.[16] On March 27, 2017, it was announced that construction would be delayed due to ongoing disputes between the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) and the Port Authority regarding funding for the project.[17]

Construction

Construction began in August 2017 on its below-grade parking garage, which will be accessible from the rear of the building on Vesey Street. Work on the building itself was originally expected to begin in 2018, with an estimated 2020 completion date and opening.[18] The Port Authority gave the Performing Arts Center a 99-year lease in February 2018.[19] The first pieces of structural steel arrived that April.[20] Work was halted in early 2018 due to financial disagreements between the Port Authority and LMDC, but routine steel work and concrete pouring resumed shortly thereafter.[21] The Performing Arts Center received $89 million from the LMDC and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in December 2018.[22][23]

Underground work was completed in July 2019,[24] and steel construction began later that year.[25] The building topped out on September 11, 2020.[26] As of November 2019, the Performing Arts Center was scheduled to open in 2021.[27]

Design

When completed, the Performing Arts Center will include approximately 90,000 square feet (8,400 m2) across three floors. The public floor will be located at street level, and will house a restaurant/bar to provide refreshments during show intermissions. The second floor will consist of rehearsal and dressing rooms for theater actors, and the third floor will house three theaters. All three theaters are designed so that the walls will be able to rotate and expand to provide extra space for a single theater if needed. The theaters will occupy approximately 1,200 people combined.[28]

References
  1. "The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Announces Selection of Architectural Firms to Design the Performing Arts Complex and the Museum Complex on the World Trade Center Site" (Press release). www.RenewNYC.org. October 12, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  2. Spitz, Rebecca (March 9, 2011). "9/11 A Decade Later: Glass Atrium Rises At WTC Memorial Site". NY1. Archived from the original on March 22, 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  3. Pogrebin, Robin (October 13, 2004). "Gehry Is Selected as Architectof Ground Zero Theater Center". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  4. "WTC Arts Center Snagged". Wall Street Journal. March 9, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  5. "Future of Gehry's World Trade Center Performing Arts Center Still Uncertain". Architect's Newspaper. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  6. Dailey, Jessica (March 10, 2014). "Things Are Not Looking Good For The WTC Arts Center". Curbed. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  7. "London Director to Draft Arts Vision for Ground Zero". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  8. Pogrebin, Robin (September 3, 2014). "Arts Center at Ground Zero Shelves Gehry Design". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  9. "Ideas for W.T.C. arts center taking shape, although building remains on hold". Downtownexpress.com. January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  10. Pogrebin, Robin (July 23, 2015). "Ground Zero Arts Center to Shrink Further". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  11. Jennifer Smith. "Architect Chosen for Performing Arts Center at World Trade Center". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. Lorenzetti, Laura (March 3, 2016). "The World's Most Expensive Train Station Opens Today". Fortune. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  13. Verrill, Courtney (March 4, 2016). "New York City's $4 billion World Trade Center Transportation Hub is finally open to the public". Business Insider. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  14. Bindelglass, Evan (August 22, 2016). "Demolition Imminent for Temporary World Trade Center PATH Station". New York YIMBY. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  15. Cooper, Michael (June 30, 2016). "Ronald Perelman Donates $75 Million for Arts Complex at World Trade Center Site". The New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  16. Cooper, Michael (September 8, 2016). "Arts Center at Ground Zero Has a New Design, and Barbra Streisand in Charge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  17. Walker, Ameena (March 27, 2017). "World Trade Center performing arts center funding is threatened". Curbed NY. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  18. Fedak, Nikolai (August 31, 2017). "Construction Begins Underneath The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center, World Trade Center - New York YIMBY". New York YIMBY. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  19. Plitt, Amy (February 16, 2018). "World Trade Center's performing arts venue gets back on track". Curbed NY. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  20. Gannon, Devin (April 30, 2018). "Construction is underway at the World Trade Center performing arts center". 6sqft. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  21. Barron, James (March 24, 2019). "At 374,000 Pounds, 'Big Boy' Plays Vital Supporting Role at Ground Zero". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  22. "The World Trade Center's Perelman Performing Arts Center Receives $89 Million in Funding". New York YIMBY. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  23. "World Trade Center Performing Arts Center Receives $89 M. Grant -". ARTnews. December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  24. Young, Michael (July 25, 2019). "Subterranean Work Complete on the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center". New York YIMBY. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  25. Young, Michael (November 19, 2019). "Steel Framework for The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center Taking Shape in Financial District". New York YIMBY. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  26. Young, Michael (September 11, 2020). "Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center Tops Out in the Financial District". New York YIMBY. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  27. Glassman, Carl (November 30, 2019). "Community Questions for New Head of WTC Performing Arts Center". www.tribecatrib.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  28. Rosenberg, Zoe (September 8, 2016). "The World Trade Center Performing Arts Center is here, and it's beautiful". Curbed NY. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
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