The much-anticipated, $172 million New Brunswick Performing Arts Center – two years in the making – is finally opening its doors to the public on Wednesday afternoon during an invitation-only reception at 6 p.m.

On Thursday, local and NBPAC officials will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. followed by the start of a 10-day production of “Paul Robeson” at the Crossroads Theatre Co.’s new facilities.

City and state officials broke ground on NBPAC’s construction in 2017. The NBPAC will be home to the George Street Playhouse and Crossroads Theater, the American Repertory Ballet and several facilities from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, towering 22 stories over the New Brunswick area – 18 of which are luxury apartments.

New Brunswick Development Corp. President Chris Paladino said he hopes this is the final residence for the two theaters, both longtime arts centerpieces in the city, as well as the American Repertory Ballet.

“The George Street Playhouse, this will be their third home in New Brunswick. They started out in a grocery store on George Street, they retrofitted the YMCA, this, we hope, will be the third and last time in New Brunswick,” Paladino said.