Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Silverstein Properties, has unveiled the updated architectural vision for the Two World Trade Center edifice in New York. This towering structure, set to rise to 55 floors and a height of 1,226 feet, will house the global headquarters of American Express. The project signifies the final phase of the comprehensive World Trade Center redevelopment, promising a modern and sustainable addition to the city's iconic skyline.
The newly released visualizations depict a striking stepped skyscraper, featuring an array of terraces that punctuate its form and a grand triple-height lobby. This design follows an earlier iteration that surfaced in 2022, showcasing a refined aesthetic that integrates seamlessly into the urban fabric. Positioned directly opposite Santiago Calatrava’s distinctive Oculus transportation hub and adjacent to Rex’s Perelman Center, the Two World Trade Center project has been a long-standing endeavor, evolving over nearly two decades.
A significant change in the project's trajectory occurred in 2020, when Foster + Partners took over the architectural responsibilities from BIG. This transition followed extensive discussions among the development partners, leading to the current blueprint. The building is envisioned to encompass almost two million square feet of space, exclusively dedicated to American Express offices, capable of accommodating approximately 10,000 employees.
Stephen J. Squeri, CEO of American Express, expressed enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing its role as more than just an office building. He highlighted its potential to foster an environment where colleagues feel inspired, proud, and energized, serving as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and growth. This undertaking is seen as a pivotal moment for both American Express and the revitalization of Lower Manhattan.
Committed to environmental stewardship, American Express has stated that the building will incorporate fully-electric, energy-efficient systems, with the ambitious goal of achieving LEED certification. The construction phase is slated to commence in the spring of 2026, with an anticipated completion date in 2031. This timeline underscores the significant scale and complexity of the development.
This structure represents the concluding element of the extensive World Trade Center complex, which includes the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, One, Two, Three, and Four World Trade Center, the Oculus, and the Perelman Arts Center. Situated at a prominent corner of the site, the Two World Trade Center location currently features a PATH subway entrance and a public plaza. The broader redevelopment has seen several key milestones, including the completion of the Perelman Performing Arts Center in 2023, and Santiago Calatrava's construction of a nearby church, replacing the 19th-century edifice destroyed on September 11, 2001, as part of the ongoing regeneration efforts for the area.