After the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 left a deep mark on New York, the city set out for more than two decades to rebuild the so-called “Ground Zero”, which will finally be completed when the inauguration of the cultural center Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), located a few meters from the two water monuments that commemorate the location of the Twin Towers.
Despite its modest height of 42 meters and being surrounded by imposing high-rise buildings, the PAC NYC building stands out for its unique architecture: a windowless cube clad in marble imported from Portugal.
During the day, the façade appears in black and white tones with veins of grey, but inside the building, the light that penetrates the thin layers of glass-encased marble and fills the center with a warm amber color, generated by the natural minerals of the stone. During the night, this effect is reversed, since the interior lights make the façade look amber from the street.
The name of the cultural center is a tribute to the billionaire American businessman Ronald O. Perelman, in recognition of his donation of $75 million dollars to complete the project.
The cultural center covers an area of more than 11,000 square meters distributed over two floors. At the entrance there will be a restaurant, a terrace and a stage where various free shows will be offered. The idea is that this area becomes the “living room” of the Lower Manhattan area, both for tourists and New Yorkers.
On the second floor there are three stages with capacities for 450, 250 and 99 people, respectively. Theatrical shows, operas, dance, concerts and film projections will be offered on these stages.
Each is separated by multi-ton walls that allow rock concerts and plays to take place simultaneously, without sound or vibrations from one affecting the other. The walls can be raised and create up to ten different spaces combining the three rooms in a versatile way.
PAC NYC will kick off its doors with an event titled “Shelter: A Concert Series to Welcome the World,” beginning September 19 and running for five days. It will have the participation of musicians from all over the world who will perform pieces related to the theme of the refuge and, as announced by the Center on its website, the entrance price for these concerts will be voluntary.
During the fall, the center will offer other shows, such as the world premiere of the opera “Watch Night” from November 3 to 18 and the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, which will take place on November 14 and October 15, among other events.
According to the organization, the water towers function as a necessary place for the families of the victims to “mourn,” along with the 9/11 Museum, which is a place for information. PAC NYC, on the other hand, presents itself as a place to celebrate life.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
