OAN Staff Lillian Mann
4:54 PM – Thursday, July 9, 2026
Signaling a historic milestone for Lower Manhattan, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction for 2 World Trade Center. The tiered glass-and-steel skyscraper will serve as the new corporate anchor for American Express and stands as the final commercial office tower to be developed at the World Trade Center complex.
Held on Thursday morning, the ceremony took place nearly two months before the city marks 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed the original complex.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-N.Y.), New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Comptroller Mark Levine were present at the groundbreaking ceremony, CBS News reported.
The Democrat mayor reflected on the profound devastation left in the wake of the Twin Towers’ destruction, describing the site as “hallowed ground.”
“After the towers fell and thousands were killed, our city was plunged into grief, and rubble filled a site long defined by greatness,” Mamdani said. “For a moment, in the aftermath of that horrific attack, it seemed that perhaps greatness would only be a memory here. But over the months and years that followed, greatness returned.”
“This is not just a sign of confidence in the future of our city — it is an investment in thousands of good jobs, the local economy, sustainability and the final piece of the rebuilt World Trade Center,” the mayor continued. “This project will continue to benefit New Yorkers for many decades to come.”
The development will reportedly create more than 3,200 construction jobs and contribute $5.9 billion to the city’s economy and $6.3 billion to the state, according to Mamdani.
The skyscraper will span nearly 2 million square feet across 55 floors and accommodate up to 10,000 employees. It will also feature more than an acre of outdoor terraces and gardens, said CBS News.
2 World Trade Center is located on the northeastern part of the site, at 200 Greenwich Street. This position actually aligns closely with where the original 5 World Trade Center used to be. 1 World Trade Center, the Freedom Tower, stands in the northwest corner of the site, adjacent to where the original North Tower was.
Although the land is held under a long-term ground lease with the Port Authority, company spokesperson Tom Topousis previously stated that the skyscraper is not receiving any state, city or Port Authority financing or incentives.
American Express has not disclosed the cost of the new building.
The American Express headquarters will mark the final commercial office building at the World Trade Center complex.
“This has been a long journey,” said Lisa Silverstein of Silverstein Properties, the developer of the site since 2001. “This is the capstone for the World Trade Center.”
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