Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) — Attraction in New York

I usually don't write reviews, but my recent experience at the PAC was so disheartening that I felt compelled to share my frustration. I had purchased VIP tickets for the meet and greet during Kerry Washington's book tour, and what should have been an exciting experience turned into a logistical nightmare.

A week before the show, I still had received no information that would allow me to plan for the event. Concerned about the lack of communication, I reached out a few days before the show, seeking information about the meet and greet time. To my dismay, the response I received was vague, merely stating that it would be on the second floor, which did not answer my question at all.

Desperate for answers, I sent follow-up emails that went unanswered for days and made countless phone calls, only to be sent straight to voicemail. It was impossible to get any information in advance, despite the significant amount I had paid for VIP tickets. To make matters worse, all my tickets and confirmations clearly indicated an 8 o'clock start time.

Then, on the day of the event, I received an email stating that the meet and greet would start at 7. This sudden change left me in a difficult situation, as I had a class meeting scheduled until 7:10. I called the venue to inquire about arriving slightly late, and they reluctantly agreed but couldn't guarantee anything. This lack of assurance was frustrating, to say the least. The person on the phone seemed more interested in defending the venue's actions by referring to my previous email correspondence, rather than addressing my concerns. Furthermore, I was told, "Sorry, we're dealing with 300 people a day," which is no excuse for the confusion and mismanagement I experienced as a paying customer.

The only reason I obtained any information was because I relentlessly pursued it. When I finally reached my seat, I learned that the two gentlemen to my right had spent $600 on VIP tickets but had also missed the meet and greet because they assumed, as I did, that it would begin at 8, in line with what their tickets clearly stated. They too missed out on their experience due to the venue's incompetence.

Upon arrival at the venue, I encountered another problem. There was a complete lack of guidance and helpful staff. I had to proactively seek out someone to ask where to go for the VIP experience because there were no ticket checks or staff guiding guests; only security personnel were visible.

Checking into the VIP section was yet another ordeal. Simply presenting my ticket was insufficient; I was asked to provide the confirmation email sent months ago. This resulted in me sifting through my inbox in a stressful attempt to prove my entitlement to the VIP experience. The venue should have maintained a list of names, making the process far smoother.

Overall, my visit to this PAC was an exceptionally stressful and unprofessional experience. The lack of communication, the sudden change in schedule, and the overall incompetence of the venue staff were extremely disappointing. My $300 investment should have guaranteed a seamless and enjoyable experience, but it instead left me with a sour taste and a determination to avoid this venue at all costs...

The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is a striking new addition to New York’s World Trade Center site, designed by REX. The building’s most notable feature is its translucent marble façade, a unique blend of Portuguese marble and glass that gives the structure a luminous, almost ethereal quality. By day, the marble allows natural light to penetrate, creating a subtle glow, while at night, the building radiates from within, thanks to its intricate internal lighting, transforming it into a beacon for the city’s cultural scene.

The architectural choice to fully enclose the space limits outward visibility, which can feel restrictive given its location among iconic city views. This approach, while elegant and unified, perhaps overlooks the potential for more interactive sightlines that could integrate the city’s landmarks into the experience. With each floor offering increasingly beautiful perspectives, the design could have leveraged this verticality by introducing some transparency—allowing visitors to enjoy New York’s skyline from within while maintaining the privacy needed for performances.

Inside, the PAC NYC offers an innovative and highly adaptable space. The center includes three theaters with moveable walls, adjustable seating, and configurable layouts, allowing for diverse artistic productions, from theater and dance to music and opera. This flexibility, combined with the elegant Rockwell-designed lobby and restaurant, makes PAC NYC not just a performance venue but an experiential space.

In essence, the Perelman Performing Arts Center is a bold architectural statement that succeeds in creating an iconic visual impact and a highly functional space. Still, a more open approach could have enhanced its relationship with New York’s vibrant cityscape, making it a fully integrated...

I attended “Watch Night” here and had very mixed feelings about the center, leaning negative. In the excitement of design innovation and flexibility of the space, I don’t think they allowed nearly enough for patron comfort:

1. To enter, you walk up one of two steep staircases, one of which should have been an escalator. A staff person there directed us to an elevator through a side entrance, which wasn’t immediately apparent.

2. To then enter the theater you have to go up another level, which you enter by a fairly small elevator (12 people maximum) you line up for. I do not understand why the elevators weren’t much larger- the space was maximized for the show and there were about 1,000 people to move, and most come en masse right before curtain time. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, freight-sized elevators move people and that certainly could have been incorporated here. After the show, many people didn’t want to wait to get on the shifts into the elevator and walked down a narrow staircase, which just about fit everyone in.

I liked the space for the pre-show free concert.

3. Seats: the cushioning was comfortable and I appreciated that. However, they should have been at least one Inch or an Inch and a half wider. People are getting bigger not smaller and it makes a difference. I am big, but 70 pounds under the 250 pound limit for Broadway show comfort, and yet still had to be careful not to brush against my neighbor. Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, which is also new, has wonderful seats- 20 inches across and well cushioned, with more distance between the seats and I can just relax and enjoy the concert. Of course this is all based on economics, and I guess the founders didn’t want to give up a seat in each aisle.

I will return, but only if there’s something I want to...