200 Vesey Street
| Formerly | Three World Financial Center, 3 World Financial Center |
|---|---|
| Company type | Headquarters |
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Office space, corporate headquarters |
| Owner | Brookfield Properties |
| Website | www |
200 Vesey Street, previously known as Three World Financial Center and also referred to as the American Express Tower, is one of the quartet of skyscrapers within the Brookfield Place complex situated in Battery Park City, adjacent to Lower Manhattan’s Financial District. This 51-story structure stands at , positioned between the Hudson River and the World Trade Center. Completed in 1986 as a component of the World Financial Center, its architectural design was crafted by Haines Lundberg Waehler in collaboration with Cesar Pelli & Associates.
Description
Exemplifying postmodern architecture, this tower, designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates, encompasses more than 2.1 million square feet (195,000 m2) of leasable office area. It links seamlessly to the rest of the complex through a courtyard that leads into the Winter Garden, a public space constructed from glass and steel, notable for its soaring 120 ft (37 m) vaulted ceiling and sixteen palm trees each rising 40 ft (12 m). The architectural style of this building later influenced the design of One Canada Square in London's Canary Wharf development, another project by Pelli for Canadian firm Olympia & York, though that structure features stainless steel cladding instead of stone.
As the tallest edifice within the complex, it attracted some criticism during its construction phase. In 1985, The New York Times commented on how it replaced a significant portion of open sky with an imposing solid facade, highlighting concerns about its effect on Manhattan’s skyline.
The building sustained extensive damage from debris during the September 11, 2001 attacks, especially at its southeast corner, necessitating closure for restoration until May 2002. A memorial titled Eleven Tears commemorates eleven American Express employees who lost their lives in those events.
Currently known as 3 World Financial Center, it functions as the worldwide headquarters for American Express and was previously home to the global headquarters of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. The name changed to 200 Vesey Street when the entire complex was rebranded as Brookfield Place in 2014.
See also
- World Trade Center
- Brookfield Place (New York City)
- List of tallest buildings in New York City
- List of tallest buildings in the United States