This entry area was the gateway to a new life in Rapture. The Welcome Center (also known as the Welcome Pavilion) was originally designed to acclimate newcomers to the underwater utopia after their arrival from the surface. It consisted of orientation facilities, several eating establishments, and luxury leisure areas including the Kashmir Restaurant and Footlight Theater. A Gatherer's Garden at the Lounge introduced the "Power of Plasmids." The purpose of this locale was to impress upon new residents the wealth and splendor of Rapture. It is also where the main incident of the 1958 New Year's Eve Riots took place, during celebrations organized at the Kashmir.