Pace University has completed a $200 million transformation of One Pace Plaza in Lower Manhattan, creating a new home for its Sands College of Performing Arts and expanding training for students pursuing careers onstage and behind the scenes.

Nearly $175.4 million in state support helped finance the 185,000-square-foot project, which includes three theaters, rehearsal studios, production facilities and energy-efficiency improvements.

The Pace University Performing Arts Center opened Thursday, October 15, following a major renovation designed to combine arts education, workforce development and neighborhood investment.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced completion of the project during a community celebration at the university’s New York City campus. The renovated east wing of One Pace Plaza centralizes undergraduate and graduate performing and creative arts programs in a single modern facility.

The governor’s announcement places the total project cost at $200 million. New York State resources account for nearly $175.4 million, although a large share of that amount is bond financing rather than a direct grant.

What the new performing arts center includes

The approximately 185,000-square-foot renovation adds performance venues, rehearsal rooms, studios, gathering areas and administrative space for the Sands College of Performing Arts. Pace’s own project materials describe three primary venues:

• A 450-seat proscenium theater
• A flexible 200-seat performance space
• A 99-seat black-box theater

The facilities also include dance and movement studios, acting spaces, film and media facilities, scene and costume shops, dressing rooms, green rooms, production areas and an accessible lighting grid.

Those details matter because arts education involves far more than public performances. A working theater depends on stage managers, lighting technicians, audio specialists, costume and set designers, camera operators, editors, producers and administrators. Students who train with professional equipment can build experience that is difficult to reproduce in a standard classroom.

The renovated building also includes academic and creative spaces serving other university programs and updated residential space in Maria’s Tower.

How New York supported the $200 million project

The state’s approximately $175.4 million package combines several funding sources:

• $25 million through an Empire State Development special appropriation
• $5.5 million through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology program
• $3 million through an Empire State Development capital grant connected with the Regional Economic Development Council initiative
• $140.4 million in bond financing issued through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York

The $3 million grant supports fixtures, furniture and equipment for the new arts facilities. New York City qualified for that award as a state-certified Pro-Housing Community.

Public reporting should distinguish grants from financing. A grant generally does not require repayment, while bond financing creates a long-term financial obligation for the institution. Both can help a project move forward, but they do not represent the same type of public support.

The project’s size also raises a fair question about geographic balance. The direct construction and campus benefits are concentrated in Lower Manhattan. State economic-development agencies should continue providing clear information about how major capital investments are selected and how comparable educational and cultural opportunities are supported across all regions.

New jobs and increased enrollment expected

Pace expects the expansion to support 26 new full-time faculty and staff positions and 85 part-time positions. The university also projects that enrollment at Sands College will grow by more than 75 percent by fiscal year 2030.

The new positions are a relatively small part of the wider creative economy, but the project is designed to train people for a broad range of occupations. Federal labor data groups actors, dancers and musicians with producers, directors, choreographers, designers, writers, editors, sound engineers, lighting technicians, camera operators and other media professionals.

New York has an unusually high concentration of arts, design, entertainment, sports and media jobs. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2023 estimated 212,540 such positions statewide. That figure includes many occupations beyond performing arts, but it helps explain why education and career connections are central to the state’s argument for the investment.

Training does not guarantee steady work in a competitive field. Students should consider tuition, housing, financial aid, internship access, union requirements and likely earnings before taking on debt. Strong programs should publish graduation, employment and student-debt information in a form families can understand.

Energy improvements were part of the renovation

The renovation replaced aging steam-absorption chillers with a high-efficiency heat-pump plant, improved the building envelope, upgraded heating and cooling systems and installed energy-efficient LED lighting with modern controls, according to Pace University.

The U.S. Department of Energy recognized the project with a 2026 Better Project Award. Pace says the new systems are designed to reduce steam use and fossil-fuel consumption while improving overall efficiency.

Large theaters, studios and residence buildings can use significant energy because of lighting, ventilation, temperature control and long operating hours. Efficiency improvements can reduce operating costs and emissions, but actual performance should be measured after the building has been occupied through multiple seasons.

Connection to Chinatown and Lower Manhattan

Pace’s downtown campus serves about 10,000 people each day, and the university estimates its yearly New York City economic impact at more than $680 million. The state expects the new center to increase student activity, performances and spending near the campus.

The university also has a history of programs involving neighboring Chinatown, including performances, workshops and public discussions. The value of the new center will depend partly on whether community access continues after the opening celebration.

Publicly supported cultural facilities can serve more people when they offer affordable tickets, free community programs, accessible seating, captioning, assisted-listening services and clear information about participation. Those details will shape whether the center functions mainly as a campus facility or as a broader public resource.

Why the project matters to Mohawk Valley readers

The Pace center is more than 200 miles from Utica, so it should not be presented as a local construction project. Its direct jobs, enrollment growth and surrounding business activity will be based in New York City.

It still has statewide relevance. Mohawk Valley students may consider Pace for college or graduate training, and New York taxpayers have an interest in how state-supported higher-education projects are financed and measured.

The project also offers a useful comparison for local institutions. The Mohawk Valley has its own network of cultural education, including Pratt Munson, Munson, Hamilton College, the Stanley Theatre and community arts organizations. These institutions support artists, technical workers, educators and downtown activity on a different scale.

The Utica Phoenix recently reported on a $200,000 grant supporting Munson programs and on Pratt Munson students creating artwork for a regional community campaign. Those stories show how arts education can connect students with real assignments and public audiences close to home.

What students and families should examine

A new facility can improve training, but prospective students should look beyond the building.

Questions to ask before applying

Before applying to an arts program, families can ask:

• What percentage of students receive grants or scholarships?
• How much debt does the typical graduate carry?
• Which internships and paid work opportunities are available?
• Do students receive technical training as well as performance instruction?
• Are facilities and productions fully accessible?
• What career and alumni support continues after graduation?
• How often can students perform, design or work on real productions?

Students interested in the new Pace facilities can review the university’s Sands College of Performing Arts information and its published production schedule. Mohawk Valley students should also compare programs, costs and career options at regional colleges and cultural institutions.

What happens next

The building is opening for the fall 2026 academic year, and the Sands College has begun its first season in the new venues. The most important results will emerge over time through enrollment, student completion, employment outcomes, public programming, energy performance and the center’s relationship with the surrounding community.

State officials describe the project as an investment in New York’s creative workforce. The public should now expect clear measures showing whether the investment expands access, produces durable jobs and provides meaningful opportunities for students from across the state.

Are arts education and cultural facilities receiving enough support in Utica and the Mohawk Valley? Share which local programs have made a difference for your family and what opportunities are still missing.