MANHATTAN- After years in which the World Trade Center site has been defined by memorials, Ground Zero is about to see something it hasn’t in years: a brand-new skyscraper rising from the ground.
State officials and developers on Wednesday broke ground on 2 World Trade Center, the long-awaited final commercial office tower on the 16-acre World Trade Center campus. The 55-story, 2 million-square-foot building will become the global headquarters of American Express, marking the last major piece in the site’s commercial redevelopment nearly three decades after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The tower, to be built by Silverstein Properties on land leased from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is expected to be completed in 2031. The 1,226-foot building will house up to 10,000 American Express employees and feature more than an acre of outdoor terraces and gardens.
For Lower Manhattan, the groundbreaking represents more than another office building, it is the first major new tower to begin construction at Ground Zero in years and signals that the decades-long rebuilding effort is entering its final chapter.
Governor Kathy Hochul called the project “a major milestone” that cements the World Trade Center campus as a premier destination for businesses while creating thousands of jobs and reinforcing Lower Manhattan’s role as a global business center.
When completed, 2 World Trade Center will fill the final undeveloped commercial parcel at the World Trade Center site. Other signature buildings, including One World Trade Center, Three World Trade Center, and Four World Trade Center, have already transformed the skyline, while the Oculus transportation hub, National September 11 Memorial & Museum and Performing Arts Center have reshaped the neighborhood into a destination for commuters, visitors, and residents.
American Express aid the move reflects its long-term commitment to the city. The company has maintained a presence in Lower Manhattan for decades and currently occupies offices at 200 Vesey Street. It plans to relocate employees to the new tower after construction is complete while remaining in its current headquarters until then.
“This project is far more than a new headquarters,” Denise Pickett, president of Enterprise Shared Services at American Express, said. “It is a reaffirmation of our belief in this city, our commitment to our colleagues, and our enduring connection to the community we have proudly called home for nearly two centuries.”
Construction is expected to create more than 2,000 union construction jobs and about 3,200 total jobs across New York City during the project, with officials estimating it will generate roughly $5.9 billion in economic activity for the city and $6.3 billion statewide.
Once finished, 2 World Trade Center will stand as the final commercial office tower at Ground Zero, closing the last chapter of one of the most ambitious urban rebuilding efforts in American history.