American Express unveils new World Trade Center headquarters
Renderings courtesy of Foster + Partners
American Express on Wednesday announced plans to build a new global headquarters at the World Trade Center, marking the final commercial tower at the Lower Manhattan campus. Located at 200 Greenwich Street, also known as 2 World Trade Center, the Foster + Partners-designed skyscraper will be developed by Silverstein Properties and span nearly 2 million square feet across 55 floors. Construction will kick off this spring, with completion slated for 2031. American Express will be the tower’s sole tenant, housing up to 10,000 employees and featuring more than an acre of outdoor space.
The building will rise on land owned by the Port Authority, which has agreed to a long-term ground lease. The project is expected to generate more than 3,200 direct and indirect construction-related jobs in New York City and contribute roughly $5.9 billion to the city’s economy and $6.3 billion statewide.
“The evidence keeps building: there is no better state than New York to do business, and from flagship corporations to small businesses, we are seeing employers plant their flag in our state for generations to come,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
“Building 2 World Trade Center will bring another iconic skyscraper to Lower Manhattan, create thousands of good-paying union jobs, and provide billions in economic benefits to New Yorkers.”
Custom-designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being, the tower will include flexible workspaces, multiple greenery-filled terraces and gardens with views of the Manhattan skyline, and advanced smart-building technology aimed at achieving LEED certification.
American Express moved to its current headquarters at 200 Vesey Street in 1986 and will remain there until the new tower is completed. Over the years, the company has made significant investments in Lower Manhattan in support of its NY–based colleagues.
In a statement, Stephen J. Squeri, chairman and CEO of American Express, described the new tower as a reaffirmation of the company’s “deep commitment” to Lower Manhattan.
“This is an investment in our company’s future, our colleagues, and the Lower Manhattan community, reaffirming our deep commitment to the neighborhood we’ve called home for nearly two centuries,” Squeri said.
“Our new headquarters will be more than just a building—it will be a place for our colleagues to feel energized, inspired, and proud—a home for innovation, interaction, and growth. We’re excited to work with our partners and local leaders to shape this exciting new era for American Express and Lower Manhattan.”
The tower marks the final office component of the World Trade Center master plan, a 16-acre redevelopment of the site designed by Studio Libeskind after winning a competition held in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The plan includes office towers, a transportation hub, a visitor pavilion, and the 9/11 memorial and museum, according to Adamson Associates.
According to Yimby, the tower’s history stretches back to 2005, when Foster + Partners first unveiled a striking design featuring four columns capped by a diamond-shaped crown. Negotiations between Silverstein Properties and Fox Corporation later led to a complete redesign, with Bjarke Ingels Group revealing their vision in 2015.
After Fox decided to remain at its Midtown headquarters, Foster + Partners returned with a new proposal, abandoning the diamond crown. In 2022, the firm revealed its latest iteration when American Express emerged as a potential occupant, and in May 2025, updated visuals showed subtle modifications while retaining the tower’s overall massing.
Another tower in the complex, 5 World Trade Center, located at 130 Liberty Street, is waiting to move forward. As the only residential component, the tower would offer 1,325 units of housing, with 400 permanently affordable apartments. The approved plan set aside 20 percent of the affordable apartments for individuals who lived or worked in the neighborhood on September 11, including first responders and families of victims. No update has been announced on the project since 2023.
2 World Trade Center marks the second major financial headquarters Foster + Partners has designed in recent years. In October, JPMorgan Chase opened its new Midtown East headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, standing 1,400 feet tall as the city’s tallest all-electric skyscraper. The 60-story, $3 billion building can accommodate 10,000 employees across 2.5 million square feet of workspace and offers 2.5 times more outdoor space than its predecessor.
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