American Express Anchors New Tower at World Trade Center
The redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan has reached another milestone with the start of construction on a new 55-story tower at 2 World Trade Center. The building, designed by Foster + Partners, will serve as the global headquarters for American Express and is expected to open in 2031.
The project marks the final vacant parcel from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which destroyed much of the original complex. Developer Larry Silverstein, who escaped the collapse due to his wife's insistence that he attend a routine dermatologist appointment, has been instrumental in rebuilding the site over the past two decades.
The new tower will feature nearly 186,000 square meters of workspace and accommodate 10,000 workstations upon completion. American Express acquired the premises in February 2026 through an executed contract that grants full building ownership to the financial firm while maintaining the underlying ground lease under the Port Authority.