American Express Signs Lease at Foster + Partners’ 2 WTC

The article reports that American Express will relocate its headquarters from 200 Vesey Street to a new 55-story tower at 200 Greenwich Street. This site is on the long-stalled 2 World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.

Designed by Foster + Partners and developed by Silverstein Properties, the nearly 2 million-square-foot curtain-wall building will be owned and occupied solely by American Express. The tower is located between Church and Vesey Streets, next to Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus.

The project sits on land owned by the Port Authority under a long-term ground lease. Construction is expected to finish in 2031, with design details still evolving.

Project Scope and Site Context

This section outlines the scale, ownership, and site conditions that shape the project. The tower is set beside the Oculus and within the Port Authority’s ground-lease framework.

The history of the project shows a long period of revisions and competing proposals on this ambitious site.

Design Evolution at 200 Greenwich Street

The proposal has changed over time. Foster + Partners first explored a design in 2006, but the plan evolved through years of changes.

In 2015, Silverstein Properties shifted to a collaboration with BIG for Rupert Murdoch’s planned tenancy. Murdoch withdrew in 2016, and BIG was dismissed in 2020.

Foster + Partners returned, releasing new renderings in 2022. The proposal is still being refined to fit the program, tower shape, and urban context.

Architectural Vision and Building Features

The design aims to balance a tall tower with human-scale amenities. It uses a glass curtain-wall and includes outdoor spaces at higher levels.

The tower’s massing and cladding offer a modern look compared to the surrounding World Trade Center buildings. The interior is designed for collaboration, wellness, and efficiency.

Sustainability and Well-Being on a Large Scale

Key sustainability and wellness features include:

Curtain Wall, Landscape, and Urban Context

The tower’s curtain-wall façade is combined with greenery to soften the exterior and create microclimates around office floors. The project connects to Lower Manhattan’s urban fabric by aligning with the transit-rich, accessible ground near the Oculus.

The design continues the area’s tradition of transparent, daylight-filled offices. Terraces serve as social and collaborative spaces for American Express employees.

Site Context and Economic Impact

The project aims to create local jobs and support urban revitalization. Leaders highlight construction and long-term job opportunities tied to union labor and family-supporting wages.

The large office space on Ground Zero is balanced with the nearby memorial and commercial district. This reinforces a message of resilience and economic vitality.

Local Impact and Labor Considerations

Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the project’s job creation and the role of union labor in providing long-term benefits for local families. The size and duration of the project suggest a major construction effort, followed by ongoing operations that support a large workforce in the neighborhood.

Timeline, Approvals, and Next Steps

The development is expected to be completed in 2031. Ongoing design changes and approvals are likely as stakeholders balance schedule, budget, and market demand.

The tower’s completion will depend on securing final approvals and aligning financing. Coordination with the Port Authority, Calatrava’s transit-oriented precincts, and the World Trade Center master plan is also required.

Why this matters for architecture and engineering? The American Express tower at 200 Greenwich Street shows how a single-occupant, high-rise campus can be designed to prioritize occupant health and energy performance. It also focuses on public realm integration within a complex site.

For professionals, it highlights the challenge of delivering a headquarters that respects urban scale and resilient infrastructure in a highly scrutinized environment.

 
Here is the source article for this story: American Express to occupy 2 World Trade Center