Frank Gehry Dismissed as Architect of World Trade Center's Performing Arts Center

The board of the Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center has announced that Frank Gehry has been dismissed as its architect and designs of three former finalists are being reconsidered. Part of the 2003 master plan designed by Daniel Libeskind, the center—estimated to cost $400 million—has been the slowest of the projects to develop at the ground zero site. Gehry responded to the board’s decision by stating that its president, Maggie Boepple, did not understand his work: “She says I build models. She doesn’t have a clue as to what I do or how I do it. It’s fine. It’s a new group. They should do what they want. I don’t want to go where I’m not wanted.”

Robin Pogrebin of the New York Times writes that the center's officials are studying institutions that they consider “successful,” including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center in Troy, New York, as they make their final decision. Boepple reports that the center also expects to announced new board members this month. Board member Julie Menin resigned last week after assuming the role of city commissioner of consumer affairs. Another member, Patricia E. Harris, the former first deputy mayor, is expected to step down, since she was serving as an ex officio member representing mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Real estate developer John E. Zuccotti is currently chairman of the arts center’s board; other members include developer Larry A. Silverstein; Christy Ferer, the founder and chief executive of the Vidicom video company; Zenia Mucha, an executive vice president of the Walt Disney Company; and the director Stephen Daldry, who was added this year.

Pogrebin reports that the center’s programming remains uncertain; two potential tenants, the Drawing Center and a proposed Freedom Center, “were ousted from the site because of their potentially controversial content.” David Lan, former artistic director of the Young Vic theater in London, was appointed as temporary artistic director this year. Lucy Sexton was brought on as associate artistic director and David Langford named the general manager and chief operating officer. They have yet to detail programming. Zuccotti said that, given the setting, he would like to see the center focus on “American culture—musicals, musical comedy—something people who come to the memorial can relate to.”