La CASA has opened in Villa Victoria, marking a major milestone for the South End neighborhood where Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción was born out of residents' fight against displacement.

La CASA: the Center for Arts, Self-determination and Activism officially opened May 15 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, the South End community development organization known as IBA. The four-story, roughly 26,500-square-foot center is being described by IBA as the largest Latino cultural center in New England.

The center is located in Villa Victoria, the historic Puerto Rican and Latino community created after residents organized against urban renewal and displacement in the South End.

The public opening included state and local leaders, including U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, state Sen. Nick Collins and state Rep. John Moran, alongside IBA leadership, artists, architects, funders and community partners. Boston 25 reported that La CASA is a $33 million project located on West Newton Street.

IBA says the center is intended to serve as a permanent home for Latino arts, culture and community empowerment. The building includes a two-story performance space, an outdoor amphitheater and public gathering areas designed to connect the historic character of the South End with modern, open architecture.

Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, IBA's CEO, told WBUR that La CASA represents "a historic milestone of almost six decades of community work" and will allow the organization to expand its arts and cultural programming.

The opening celebration stretched across four days and included music, art, dancing, public tours, workshops and community events. Opening weekend programming included a concert by Afro-Caribbean musician Eguie Castrillo, community open houses, arts workshops and a dance fiesta featuring Puerto Rican and Latinx music.

The new center also highlights the role of artists and designers in shaping the space. IBA identified world-renowned Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorell, lead architect Natasha Espada of STUDIO ENÉE and senior collaborating architect Ann Beha of Annum Architects among those central to bringing the project to life. Boston 25 reported that visitors are greeted by "Future in Motion," a large mural by Boston-based Puerto Rican artist Alvin "Acóma" Colón.

The center's main performance venue, Jean and Tom Yawkey Hall, will host live performances and cultural programming. Boston 25 reported the hall seats about 230 people and includes state-of-the-art lighting and acoustics.

For IBA, the opening is both cultural and political. The organization says La CASA was built on land preserved through decades of anti-displacement work, making the center a statement about cultural permanence at a time when Boston and other cities face rising housing costs and development pressure.

La CASA is now open to the public, with IBA expected to continue offering arts, cultural and community programming in the space.