The 1,226-ft tower will complete the rebuilt World Trade Center skyline and house American Express’ global headquarters
Construction is officially underway on 2 World Trade Center, the most anticipated tower yet in Lower Manhattan’s rebuilt complex.
At 1,226 ft / 373.7 m and 55 stories, the new supertall will complete the World Trade Center skyline nearly 25 years after 9/11. Developed by Silverstein Properties, it is set to open in 2031 and will serve as the *new global headquarters for American Express, with space for roughly 10,000 employees across 2 million sq ft / 186,000 sq m of office space.
2 World Trade Center has had one of the most complex development histories in NYC.
The project was first designed by Foster + Partners, then handed to Bjarke Ingels Group, before Foster + Partners was brought back to deliver the final design.
The wait may pay off. In a city full of glass boxes, the tower is designed to stand out. Its stepped form features multiple terraces and integrated greenery that connect visually to the trees at street level around the memorial.
While the official groundbreaking was held earlier this month, work on 2WTC actually started in 2008. The foundation was completed in *2013*, and construction is now ramping up in full.
“This is not just a significant step forward for Lower Manhattan, but an inspiring demonstration of New York’s strength and resilience,” said Kathryn Garcia, Executive Director of the Port Authority, at the ceremony attended by city and federal officials.
“This investment by American Express advances our shared goal of completing the restoration of the World Trade Center as a site that supports commerce, remembrance, culture, community, transit and tourism for all the world to see.”
2 World Trade Center is the final commercial tower planned for the site. It joins:
– One World Trade Center – the tallest building in the U.S.
– 3 World Trade Center – office tower
– 5 World Trade Cente – the site’s only residential building
With its terraces, scale, and anchor tenant, 2WTC is positioned to be both a commercial landmark and the closing chapter in one of New York’s most symbolic rebuilds.
