The final designs were released today along with the important news that Barbra Streisand will be the Chairperson of the whole shebang. You know what that means – probably. Any Babs concert designed to raise operating funds for the PAC will definitely out-perform expectations. We'll keep our ear to the ground for news. BTW, her new album is the cat's pajamas.
The design is by Joshua Prince-Ramus of the Brooklyn firm REX. Mr. Prince-Ramus told New York YIMBY that he has lived in TriBeCa since 2000 and lost everything he owned on 9/11. He will see his design formally open in 2020.
The center will have THREE theaters of 499, 250, and 99 seats. According to the video below, the three theaters can be combined and reconfigured 11 different ways including combining the two largest venues which would put it well over 500 seats and into the Broadway category. We have a sneaking suspicion that Babs may have an idea about directing a little something-or-other that might bring her a Tony Award. She hasn't forgotten losing out to Carol Channing's Hello Dolly in 1964, and the special non-competitive Tony that she received a few years later was probably little consolation. Boy, wouldn't that be incredible if Babs loaded a show into the new center.
The outside shape of the center is a little underwhelming at first glance: a cube and pretty plain at that; marble, but this marble lets the light run through it. Yes, that's what we said. Once you roll through these pictures, you will see how the design compliments the 9/11 memorial reflecting pool.
Here are some of the photos released by the center today which we lifted from New York YIMBY who lifted them from somebody else:
Below is a rehearsal space with some "dancers" sketched in. That's a good sign.
People will be able to sit on the steps of the center and admire Santiago Calatrava's incredible bird transit hub.
The corner of the center (with the gold circle top) and the corner of the memorial reflecting pool seem to speak to each other.
Here's a video from the design team that looks pretty interesting.
Mr. Perelman donated $75 million to the center.
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