Rensselaer formally celebrated the opening of the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) with a series of events that began Oct. 3. The festivities began with a Presidential Colloquy that brought together global leaders in media, technology, and the arts and continued with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new creative laboratory for science and the arts.

Three weekends of events—ranging from world-class artistic performances and workshops to presentations of research at the nexus of science and the arts—were held throughout the month of October to introduce EMPAC to the campus, the local community, and the world.

Opening events included an inaugural concert featuring performances by the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Chicago-based chamber group the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Vox Vocal Ensemble, and Per Tengstrand, the Swedish piano virtuoso; a research symposium focused on the intersection of the arts, science, and technology; the premiere of EMPAC commissioned DANCE MOViES; and a performance by renowned jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.

EMPAC has a full slate of events planned for the remainder of the academic year. Visit www.empac.rpi.edu for more details.