Construction is preparing to restart at 2 World Trade Center, a 55-story supertall office skyscraper in Manhattan’s Financial District. Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners and developed by Silverstein Properties, the 1,226-foot-tall structure is the final component of the 16-acre World Trade Center complex and is slated to yield 1.95 million rentable square feet, with American Express as the anchor tenant. The full-block property is bounded by Vesey Street to the north, Fulton Street to the south, Church Street to the east, and Greenwich Street to the west.
The below aerial photographs from the beginning of May show machinery on site and some of the temporary covers removed from the one-story superstructure that had sat idle since 2012.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
The following photos from the corner of Greenwich and Fulton Streets show the concrete superstructure and protruding rebar that was recently unveiled from the protective wooden covers. The metal casings adorned with colorful murals will be removed in the coming weeks as construction ramps up.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
The following photos from the end of March show the first sections of white fencing being placed around the corner of Greenwich and Vesey Streets. A telescopic crane is currently being used, and tower cranes will soon begin assembly as the building ascends.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
2 World Trade Center. Photo by Michael Young.
The above and below renderings depict the finalized design of the project from a mix of aerial and street-level perspectives. The photo at the top of the article looks up at 2 World Trade Center from the North Tower memorial pool, previewing its stepped massing and staggered loggia terraces. The below image looks north at the multifaceted crown and upper landscaped terrace.
2 World Trade Center. Rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners.
2 World Trade Center. Rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners.
The following street-level renderings highlight the base and its façade, which will consist of floor-to-ceiling glass and metal ventilation screens for the mechanical levels and around the tower’s setbacks. The lobby will be situated along Greenwich Street and will be enclosed in soaring glass walls, similar to those of 3 and 4 World Trade Center to the south. Metal paneling is shown covering the perimeter columns.
2 World Trade Center. Rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners.
2 World Trade Center. Rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners.
The following image looks up at 2 World Trade Center from Greenwich Street, highlighting the six landscaped loggia terraces.
2 World Trade Center. Rendering courtesy of Foster + Partners.
American Express announced its commitment to serve as the anchor tenant on February 25. The company plans to make the skyscraper its new global headquarters capable of supporting 10,000 employees across flexible floor arrangements and modern workspaces. The building’s stepped terraces are expected to yield more than 1 acre of outdoor space, and the tower will be equipped with advanced technology and fully electric, energy-efficient systems. The project will also pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. American Express’s headquarters has been located at 200 Vesey Street since 1986.
Cconstruction is projected to create more than 3,200 direct and indirect construction-related jobs in New York City. The project is also expected to contribute nearly $5.9 billion to the city’s economy and $6.3 billion to the economy of New York State.
2 World Trade Center’s anticipated completion date is slated for 2031.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
A blue sky makes even a hole in the ground look beautiful..
How many years since 9/11, still under construction…
But finally happening. Glass half full. Now they need to get 5WTC going to complete the complex.
Are they still doing 5 WTC? This article made it sound like this is it. I’d like to see 5 WTC finally get off the ground
While some market speculation in early 2026 pointed toward a 2025 construction start, recent reports from late March 2026 emphasize the project is currently frozen while stakeholders determine the feasibility of the project’s costs and, final, residential unit mix,.
What’s your point?
agree with you Haru – I figured America would show the terrorists that we (New York , America, the West) will build back better more beautiful and better.. the whole thing would have been done in record time. Maybe a few years top for completion.
The people responsible for 9/11 were hunted down and killed, One World Trade, and the Memorial Pools in the footprint of the original towers were built, and are a powerful, and moving marker and memorial of that dark day. The rest is window dressing..
yea.. no.. but ok
of course, respect the victims, the infamous.
but life must go on. its not window dressing. its defiance and more
Yeah, ok..”window dressing” was too glib, but for 2 World Trade it was back to normal business, Silverstein had to find an anchor tenant before construction could begin, just like any other project..
Just build it already.
A real tragedy that it is not the original Foster design with the four angled diamonds at the top. That was so beautiful. Why was it rejected? Though this is better than some of the interim proposals.
The new building is being designed for a single tenant. They wanted a custom design built to fit their needs? Is that so hard to get?
I really like the World Trade Center 2 renderings except for the street level ones. The street level looks really bland like it was an afterthought. So much more could be done to make the street level more attractive.
I think its smart to keep it bland; it pulls pedestrians to the memorial, which is and should only be, the main highlight of the site.
Yes, the write up here says the street level design purposely matches those of World Trade 3 and 4..
NY doesn’t need another flat top supertall, but at least the top here is chopped down. The original design is still the best offered.
Just like with apartment balconies, those skydecks will rarely be used and smoking won’t be allowed. So finally let’s get the skygardens that renderings never seem to deliver. Silverstein should commit to the lush look and plant evergreen bushes along the deck edge. And tie them down. This would make the mediocre building design instantly noticeable.
Now the Oculus will be hemmed in on both sides, and you will never again be able to see it in its entirety. Great planning.
Finally