New York studio REX have been chosen as the lead designers for the forthcoming Performing Arts Center building at the World Trade Center (PACWTC).

The architects have been selected over rival firms Henning Larsen and UNStudio to design the 80,000sq ft (7,400sq m) mixed-use cultural venue – which will produce works of theatre, dance, music, opera and film.

Once completed, the Performing Arts Centre will form part of the wider World Trade Center complex commemorating the combined 2,983 people killed in the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 bombing of the site.

“We are honoured to design such a meaningful project on a site imbued with deep significance for the people of New York,” said REX founder Joshua Prince-Ramus. “I am confident that our collaboration with PAC's exceptional team will help create a building that embodies and inspires the many dimensions of creative expression.”

Explaining the decision to partner with the studio, PACWTC president and director Maggie Boepple said: “REX totally blew us away with their innovative ideas about how to present cutting-edge culture, but also about how to make the PAC relate to everyone who comes to the World Trade Center site, including workers, residents, and visitors.’

Davis Brody Bond – who created the underground memorial museum at the World Trade Center – will serve as executive architects on the performing arts project. Development company DBI and British theatre and acoustics consultancy Charcoalblue are also involved.

While the full cost of the project has yet to be calculated, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) has allotted US$99m (€93m, £65m) in funding. The remainder will be raised privately. An original design provided by Frank Gehry – reportedly budgeted at US$400m (€376m, £264m) – was officially dropped in 2014.

The REX design for the centre is expected to be unveiled in early 2016.

The studio’s previous cultural work includes the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in Dallas and the Vakko Fashion Center in Istanbul. Prince-Ramus was formerly a partner at OMA studio in New York.