Celebrated in song, dance and music during three jam-packed days in January, the new Performing Arts Center shines brightly after decades in the planning. The 800-seat Vaughncille Joseph Meng Concert Hall is home to the university's choral and instrumental ensembles as well as special visiting artists. William Murray, chief project architect, designed the cherry wood interior in a mix of reds and golds. "We wanted a comfortable space," says Jerry Samuelson, dean of the College of the Arts, "so the architect dealt with a rich palette of color." Aiding in the customized accoustics are are fabric banners and Roman shades, which are adjusted according to the accoustical needs of each performance.