“A comprehensive look at just how the avant-garde building sprung up in the heart of a politically fragmented city.”—Miami Herald
 
"Tells the definitive and important story of how the Adrienne Arsht Center came to be the crown jewel of the performing arts in the great, diverse city of Miami, setting the bar for all cultural art venues that have followed in its path."—Emilio Estefan  
 
“Readers of this book will learn about the political/private process, history, and the design intricacies of the Center but in the end will be swept away by the more compelling aspects of the intriguing historical account of the building of the world-class performing arts complex in Miami. . . . Les Standiford has written an engaging and inspiring tale for all readers.”—American Society of Theater Consultants

"An important story of selfless human spirit overcoming the conflicting obstacles of political, private, and market conditions."—Stephen Placido, ASTC, vice president, TSG Design Solutions, Inc.  
 
"In a class by itself. A compelling saga that will make everyone feel part of the journey from concept to completion."—Arva Moore Parks, author of George Merrick, Son of the South Wind: Visionary Creator of Coral Gables  
 
"Navigates the political and practical realities of priorities among architects, acousticians, theater consultants, fund-raising specialists, and local producers. Reads like a well-crafted mystery with several twists and turns built into the plot."—Michael Blachly, senior advisor, Arts Consulting Group  
 
Discover how one spectacular building project revolutionized Miami, how one man's moxie helped turn a fractious tropical city into a cultural capital of the Americas. In Center of Dreams, New York Times bestselling author Les Standiford tells the inspiring story of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.  
 
The vision for this building, which would become the most ambitious cultural arts complex since the Kennedy Center, began in an unlikely place and time. Miami in the 1970s was divided by social and ethnic tensions. The city comprised a growing population of immigrants from the Cuban revolution, a well-established African American community, Florida "crackers," and a continual influx of tourists and retirees. Critics said a cultural center would never be possible in a place of such extreme diversity.  
 
But Parker Thomson, a lawyer and Boston transplant, knew his adopted city could become a world-leading community in the twenty-first century. He believed a performing arts center was critical to this vision. Everyone said his dream was impossible, he would never succeed, it couldn't be done. Not in Miami. But Thomson persevered against political opposition, economic roadblocks, and engineering problems. It took thirty years to overcome the odds and the obstacles, but he finally made the dream a reality. With Thomson's efforts, along with help from cultural leaders, iconic design work by architect Cesar Pelli, and support from philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, the center opened its doors in 2006 with a star-studded gala.  
 
Today the Arsht Center is a cutting-edge venue of style and art, a landmark beloved by the city's residents, and a magnet for tourists from all over the world. Presenting performances that celebrate the richness of Miami's diverse population, it showcases emerging local artists and attracts international stars. Resident companies include the New World Symphony, the Florida Grand Opera, and the Miami City Ballet. Its improbable story is a testament to the influence of cultural advocacy, the importance of government support for the arts, and the power of the arts to repair and sustain communities.  
 
Les Standiford is founding director of the Creative Writing Program at Florida International University. He is the author of many novels and works of nonfiction, including Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad That Crossed an Ocean.
 

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Excerpt

A comprehensive look at just how the avant-garde building sprung up in the heart of a politically fragmented city.
--Miami Herald