2 World Trade Center
| Company type | Proposed skyscraper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate / Construction |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City , United States |
| Products | Office building |
2 World Trade Center (abbreviated as 2 WTC and also referred to as 200 Greenwich Street) is a proposed skyscraper forming part of the reconstructed World Trade Center complex located in Manhattan, New York City. It is designed to take the place of the original 2 World Trade Center, which was completed in 1973 but destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001. The new tower will be situated on the site formerly occupied by 5 World Trade Center. Although foundation work was finalized in 2013, no further building progress has been made since then.
Original structure (1973–2001)
The original 2 World Trade Center, known as the South Tower, was finished in 1973 and ranked as the world’s second tallest skyscraper at the time, trailing only its twin, 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower). The South Tower featured an outdoor observation deck at 110 stories and an indoor viewing area at 107 stories. While briefly overtaken in height by Chicago’s Sears Tower in May 1973, it maintained the record for the highest number of floors—110—until surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2010.
Out of its total 110 floors, eight were allocated for mechanical equipment, positioned evenly throughout on levels 7/8, 41/42, 75/76, and 108/109. The remaining floors consisted of open-plan office layouts, each offering roughly of usable space. The tower contained approximately of commercial office area and was serviced by a total of 95 express and local elevators.
Initially targeted toward enterprises involved in international commerce, the South Tower faced challenges attracting tenants early on. Government entities such as the State of New York were among its first occupants. By the 1980s, with New York’s financial industry rebounding, private sector companies—mainly financial firms connected to Wall Street—became dominant tenants. By the following decade, nearly 500 businesses operated within the complex, including prominent financial institutions like Morgan Stanley, Aon, Salomon Brothers, alongside the Port Authority itself. The basement level housed retail space known as The Mall at the World Trade Center and a PATH station, providing enhanced shopping and transit options.
Electrical power was delivered by Consolidated Edison at 13,800 volts through the World Trade Center Primary Distribution Center (PDC). This voltage was then stepped down via substations located on mechanical floors to secondary voltages suitable for tenant use. Backup power was supplied by six generators rated at 1,200 kilowatts each situated in the sixth basement level, supplemented by additional rooftop generators on 5 WTC to ensure continuous emergency electricity for critical systems.
Radio and television broadcast equipment was installed on the 110th floor of 1 World Trade Center. Access to rooftops was managed from the WTC Operations Control Center located on B1 level of 2 World Trade Center.
September 11 attacks
At precisely 9:03 a.m. EDT on September 11, 2001, five terrorists deliberately flew United Airlines Flight 175 into the southern facade of the South Tower. Three buildings within the World Trade Center complex—including 2 WTC—collapsed as a result of structural failure caused by intense fires. The building’s lightweight construction and hollow core design allowed jet fuel to penetrate deeply into interior floors, igniting extensive fires across multiple levels impacted by the crash. Although the jet fuel itself burned out within minutes, materials inside continued to burn for over an hour.
Had conventional heavy steel-frame high-rise construction been employed instead, debris and fuel would likely have remained confined to exterior or peripheral zones, potentially preventing critical structural failures at core points. Under such circumstances, it is believed that the towers might have remained standing considerably longer. The extreme heat from fires weakened supporting columns and caused floors to deform downward, pulling perimeter columns inward and diminishing their load-bearing capabilities. The South Tower ultimately collapsed at 9:59 a.m., approximately 56 minutes after impact and ignition of jet fuel from United Airlines Flight 175.
New tower
The planned 62-story skyscraper will reach an architectural and roof height of , potentially ranking as the city's 9th tallest building by roof height once finalized.
Redevelopment of the site
In July 2001, Larry Silverstein secured a lease for the original World Trade Center from the PANYNJ, with his firm Silverstein Properties continuing rent payments after the September 11 attacks. In the ensuing months, architects and urban planners assembled to formulate reconstruction strategies. Architect Daniel Libeskind was selected as the winner of the master plan competition in February 2003, which proposed five towers, a 9/11 memorial, and a transportation hub. By July 2004, a 65-story 2 World Trade Center was suggested for the site’s northeast corner; however, redevelopment was postponed due to disagreements over tower development rights.
An agreement between the PANYNJ and Silverstein was reached in 2006: Silverstein relinquished development rights for 1 and 5 WTC in exchange for financing through liberty bonds allocated to 2, 3, and 4 WTC.
British architect Norman Foster of Foster and Partners was commissioned in May 2006 to design 2 World Trade Center at 200 Greenwich Street. Architects Richard Rogers and Fumihiko Maki were assigned to design 3 and 4 World Trade Center respectively. The designs for these three towers were revealed in September 2006. The proposed 78-story 2 World Trade Center would include four diamond-shaped structures atop its roof, retail space at its base, four floors dedicated to trading activities, and approximately of office space spread over 60 floors. Its lower sections were planned to connect seamlessly with the rebuilt Westfield World Trade Center Mall.
The initial Foster and Partners design featured structural engineering by WSP Cantor Seinuk. The four rooftop diamonds were angled toward the memorial site, symbolizing the original towers’ locations. The tower’s diamond-shaped exterior included cross bracing and recesses to segment each facade. The Port Authority highlighted that Foster’s design embraced Libeskind’s "wedge of light" concept and ensured that no shadows would fall on the memorial park on September 11.
Construction
Excavation work for 200 Greenwich Street commenced in 2008, with completion originally targeted between 2012 and 2016. By May 2009, the Port Authority proposed downsizing towers 2 and 3 WTC and delaying construction of 5 WTC due to the Great Recession and conflicts with developer Larry Silverstein. While Silverstein sought Port Authority funding for two towers, the agency intended to control the site of 3 WTC and finance only one tower. New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted mediation efforts but was unsuccessful. In July 2009, Silverstein suggested arbitration to resolve the dispute, formally initiating it in August while seeking $2.7 billion in damages. In January 2010, an arbitration panel dismissed Silverstein's damages claim but invalidated a clause that would have required him to surrender the towers if unfinished by 2014.
During arbitration proceedings, Silverstein requested approval for a $2.6 billion tax-exempt bond issuance for redevelopment purposes; this was granted by New York state in December 2009, yet construction on towers 2 and 3 WTC remained at a standstill. In February 2010, Silverstein proposed prioritizing construction of 3 WTC first while postponing tower 2, potentially yielding $262 million in short-term savings. By March, agreements between the Port Authority and New York governments allocated $600 million toward funding for 3 WTC after Silverstein secured tenants covering at least . Silverstein committed to completing the first five stories by 2013 if unable to finance or lease additional space. New Jersey Port Authority board members approved this arrangement contingent on funding for Bayonne Bridge reconstruction.
Foundation work for Tower 2 began on June 1, 2010; however, construction paused in August 2012. The street-level foundation was completed by November that year, with all work up to street level finished by mid-2013. Further progress remains suspended pending tenant commitments. In a 2019 interview, Silverstein mentioned he might initiate construction on Tower 2 without a signed tenant but indicated that completion would likely not occur until approximately 2022–2023.
Bjarke Ingels Group
On June 9, 2015, Wired revealed that the redesign of Two World Trade Center would be undertaken by Bjarke Ingels of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), aiming for completion by 2020. Initially, the lower portion was intended to be leased to 21st Century Fox and News Corp, but both companies eventually withdrew.[1]
At the request of developer Silverstein Properties and prospective media tenants, BIG commenced the redesign in May 2015.[2] The new approach addressed the departure of financial firms from the Financial District, which complicated leasing under the original Foster and Partners concept designed for financial institutions. Media organizations became the primary target occupants for the revamped WTC towers and were expected to anchor BIG's vision.
The updated design showcased a cantilevered form projecting from the north and terraces extending from the east, maintaining a vertical profile with a subtle lean towards One World Trade Center when viewed from the south and west. Bjarke Ingels characterized it as "a vertical village of bespoke buildings within the building," establishing a dynamic dialogue with One World Trade Center through its inclined shape.[2] Additionally, the design sought to bridge Tribeca with the Financial District, reflecting Tribeca’s contemporary architectural character via its cantilevered and terraced elements.
The office tower was planned to include approximately of retail space spanning its first three floors, including street level.[3] It was set to become the second-tallest structure on the World Trade Center site, trailing only One World Trade Center.
Return to Foster and Partners
Following the withdrawal of News Corp and 21st Century Fox, uncertainty surrounded the site’s future, leading to discussions about reverting to Norman Foster's initial tower design. Larry Silverstein, the developer, stated that both Foster's and BIG's proposals remained under review, with a final decision contingent on securing a tenant. In February 2019, Silverstein mentioned that construction might proceed "on spec" without an anchor tenant due to a robust economy and leasing momentum in adjacent towers. By January 2020, Silverstein announced a partnership with Foster to revise the original design, adapting it "significantly to meet current demands and preferences." Updated renderings were made public in early 2022. Further modifications were introduced in May 2025, including reducing the building’s height and adding a spire.
Possible tenants
In 2013, Citigroup considered this tower as a potential headquarters after their lease at 399 Park Avenue ended in 2017 but ultimately selected nearby 388 Greenwich Street, a property they already occupied.
Securing tenants for Two World Trade Center has proven challenging for Silverstein, as many companies face prohibitive relocation expenses or favor Midtown Manhattan due to superior access to areas like the Upper East Side, North Jersey, Long Island, Westchester, and Connecticut. Silverstein emphasizes Downtown’s closeness to Brooklyn, which hosts many workers in technology and media sectors. Nonetheless, potential tenants tend either to be too large (such as Facebook or Google) or prefer remaining in their current locations for cost reasons (including News Corp and Fox Corporation).
On June 2, 2015, Bloomberg Business reported that News Corp and 21st Century Fox—both owned by Rupert Murdoch—entered a non-binding agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to establish a shared headquarters at Two World Trade Center. Silverstein viewed this as indicative of Lower Manhattan’s revitalization. The lead architect role shifted from Norman Foster to Bjarke Ingels to better accommodate television studio needs rather than financial offices; however, redesign efforts faced difficulties due to prior construction based on Foster’s plans. By January 2016, Murdoch’s companies decided against relocating, opting instead to maintain their headquarters on the Avenue of the Americas, citing concerns about investment size.
In September 2017, Deutsche Bank explored relocating its U.S. headquarters to Two World Trade Center as an anchor tenant after their lease at nearby 60 Wall Street expired. However, by May 2018, Deutsche Bank announced plans to move instead to the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.
Scale models of Two World Trade Center were publicly displayed in September 2024 while Silverstein continued efforts to secure financing. That same month, negotiations began with American Express as a potential anchor tenant, which could facilitate resumption of construction. To fund the project, Silverstein sought nearly $4 billion in federal loan support through the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program but withdrew this application in early 2025.
See also
External links
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