The Perelman Performing Arts Center is a unique venue for performances by all theater disciplines and other gatherings at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The project delivers on a 20+ year old promise to bring an ambitious and inspiring arts and gathering space to the site as part of the larger WTC redevelopment plans in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and destruction.

American Hydrotech was contact by the NYC office of envelope consultant WJE to assist in the design and execution of a Protected Membrane Roof (PMR) Assembly that would feature Glacier White concrete pavers as the finish & ballasting overburden for the assembly and provide high solar reflectance to meet cool roofing goals.

Also unique to the design is the use of the cavity space between the bottom of the pavers and top of insulation for rooftop stormwater detention, also referred to as a Blue Roof. In the early planning on the project, the A/E team was presented with a unique stormwater management challenge. The building would stretch to all lot lines, so there would be no available space at-grade to manage stormwater. Further, the underground space below the building would not be available for a traditional stormwater tank as it was already congested with NYC subway space and old utilities. Because of Hydrotech’s past experience and proven performance in the promotion and execution of blue roofs on top of Monolithic Membrane 6125 around the country in recent years, the design team, envelope consultant, and ownership were empowered with the ability to design for all of the site’s required stormwater detention to take place on the roof. This plan also allowed the A/E team to maximize the interior space of the building for the intended programming of performing arts and gathering spaces.