The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), American Express and Silverstein Properties broke ground Thursday on the construction of 2 World Trade Center, which will complete the commercial component of the World Trade Center’s redevelopment after the campus was destroyed by the worst terror attack in American history 25 years ago.
With more than 2 million square feet of space, the 55-story building will serve as the new global headquarters for American Express, located at 200 Greenwich St., hosting up to 10,000 of the firm’s employees when it is completed in 2031. The project is being developed by Silverstein Properties on land owned by PANYNJ.
Speakers at the July 9 groundbreaking reflected on the city’s resilience and the promise made nearly 25 years ago to rebuild while honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America.
“Today’s groundbreaking for the final commercial tower at the World Trade Center is an important milestone in fulfilling a promise made 25 years ago to rebuild, to restore and to remember in the aftermath of 9/11,” said Kevin O’Toole, PANYNJ chairman. “A new 2 World Trade Center, overlooking a magnificent memorial and museum and alongside a performing arts center, will strengthen one of our nation’s most important centers for commerce, culture and remembrance.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani took the stage and echoed the importance of remembering and rebuilding from the terror attacks that killed thousands of New Yorkers and destroyed Lower Manhattan. He acknowledged American Express’ 170-year history Downtown.
“We are standing today on hallowed ground. Twenty-five years ago this September, a horrific terror attack was launched against our city, against the building that rose here that carried the same name,” the mayor said. “The towers fell. Thousands of our fellow New Yorkers were killed. Our city was plunged into grief.”
Mamdani explained how the site rose from tragedy through the courage of first responders, workers and rebuilding, with the new building symbolizing NYC’s resilience.
“For many months, rubble filled the site that had long been defined by greatness,” he said. “But over the months and years that followed, greatness returned. It returned in the first responders who sacrificed so much on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers. It returned in those who cleared the pile and laid new foundations. It returned in the first office workers who came back to work. And it returns today as we break ground on a new building that will rise 1,226 feet into the sky.”
According to city and state officials and private stakeholders, the project is expected to create over 2,000 union construction jobs and 3,200 total jobs in New York City during the duration of the project.
“The new American Express Tower will reflect who we are as a company: forward-looking, customer-focused, and committed to creating meaningful opportunities for future generations,” Denise Pickett, American Express president of enterprise shared services, said.
American Express will be the sole owner and occupant of the building; it will remain at its current headquarters on Vesey Street until the project is completed.
Others who attended the groundbreaking included Lisa Silverstein, CEO of Silverstein Properties and the daughter of Larry Silverstein; City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a former member of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation that helped lead the rebuilding effort; and Kathryn Garcia, Port Authority executive director.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release that Thursday’s event strengthens the World Trade Center’s role as a global business hub.
“Today is a major milestone towards cementing the status of the World Trade Center campus as a premier location in our city for businesses from around the world to grow and thrive,” she said. “From the union labor who will build this remarkable tower, to the thousands of American Express employees who will work here for generations to come, 2 World Trade Center will be a shining symbol of the resilience, excellence and opportunity that defines Lower Manhattan.”
The duration of the project, Hochul said, is expected to provide an estimated contribution of approximately $5.9 billion to the city’s economy and $6.3 billion to the state economy overall.
