NEW YORK, NY.- Henning Larsen Architects announced that it was one of three finalists for the planned multi-space Performing Arts Center of the World Trade Center. The building will be located at the northeast corner of the World Trade Center site in New York City. The invited international design competition shortlisted Henning Larsen Architects, REX Architecture, and UN Studio.

The arts center signifies a commitment to making the memorial site into a cultural destination for residents and visitors. The World Trade Center site has been developed by world-class architects; as a finalist, Henning Larsen Architects solidifies its position as one of today’s premier architecture firms. “Henning Larsen Architects is deeply honored to have been invited to this competition in the heart of New York City, at the heart of Ground Zero,” said Louis Becker, Design Director and Principal Partner of Henning Larsen Architects. “We want to congratulate Joshua Prince-Ramus and REX on winning the project.”

Henning Larsen Architects was founded in 1959 by Henning Larsen, who is often referred to as the “master of light”. The firm is renowned for the cultural institutions that it has designed around the world, including:

· Harpa, the Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Center that won the prestigious 2013 Mies van der Rohe Award in conjunction with Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson

· Moesgaard Museum, winner of multiple international awards

· Copenhagen Opera House, a spectacular performance venue that anchors the inner city harbor

Henning Larsen Architects was drawn to the Performing Arts Center project because the firm believes that cultural projects add environmental, economic, and social dimension and depth to communities. Becker said, “Cultural buildings give sense and identity to a city. In addition to functional space, it is important to introduce public spaces distributed throughout the building. In our project we wanted visitors without tickets to feel invited to drop in for a journey through the building to the rooftop park.”

In the design process, Henning Larsen Architects applied an approach with a Scandinavian point of origin. Becker said, “Our project harvests daylight for the new performing arts center. In dense urban areas like Manhattan, daylight is a scarce resource. Daylight gives architecture a form, a pause, a rhythm, like music. But it is more than poetry. Daylight has a big influence on our comfort and wellbeing.”

Henning Larsen Architects’ work extends beyond cultural institutions. The firm has deep expertise in master planning, educational, commercial, and healthcare facilities. In December this year, Microsoft’s new headquarters in Denmark will be inaugurated. Other projects currently under construction include: Siemens Global headquarters in Germany, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany, Hangzhou East Lake Opera in China, and the Institute for Diplomatic Studies in Saudi Arabia.