$500 million Perelman Arts Center opens at World Trade Center site
NEW YORK -- There's a new beacon of light for Lower Manhattan. Added to the World Trade Center site is a $500 million center for performance and creative expression.
CBS New York's Dave Carlin was at the grand opening of Perelman Arts Center (PAC NYC).
The giant cube is dazzling and drawing crowds to a shapeshifting arts space.
The grand opening had VIPs, song and dance. Tony Award winner Gavin Creel was joined by ballet students from the Joffrey School.
The chairman of the board for Perelman Arts Center is former mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"Today, we inaugurate the last major piece of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site," he said.
The center at 251 Fulton St. is the work of REX architecture firm.
"In the core of the building, the heart of the building, are these really dynamic theaters. There's three, and they are extremely reconfigurable," REX founding principal Joshua Ramos said.
The interior space is by the Rockwell Group.
"The combination of elements -- the memorial, the museum. In the performing arts center, you have to come up the stairs, and you're entering a place that's about creativity and art and possibilities," David Rockwell said.
"We need places like this to give us that sense of hope again," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
"It renews our spirit," Mayor Eric Adams said.
There is a dazzling difference between day and night -- the thin marble panels and a glowing from within this place full of life.
"Being part of the World Trade Center site is so important to our mission," PAC NYC Executive Director Khady Kamara said. "You can walk in anytime we're open."
"We're going to have Marcus Samuelsson's restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We're going to have free performances on the lobby stage. So I do think just a place to come and hang out," PAC NYC Artistic Director Bill Rausch said.
The theaters are buzzing with activity, setting the stages for the start of performances Sept. 19.