Brookfield Place (New York City)

Brookfield Place

Company type	Mixed-use development
Industry	Real estate, Retail, Office space
Predecessor	World Financial Center
Founded	1983
Founder	Olympia and York
Fate	Renamed from World Financial Center in 2014
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	Manhattan, New York City
Products	Retail space, Office space, Marina
Owner	Brookfield Asset Management (except American Express areas)
Parent	Brookfield Properties

Brookfield Place—previously known and still frequently referred to as the World Financial Center—is a mixed-use development comprising retail and office spaces located in Manhattan's Battery Park City area of New York City. Positioned just across West Street from the World Trade Center and offering views of the Hudson River, this property is owned and operated by Brookfield Properties, a division of Brookfield Asset Management.

History

The World Financial Center was conceived by architect César Pelli in collaboration with Adamson Associates. Its construction, undertaken by developer Olympia and York, spanned from 1983 to 1988 on land reclaimed in Battery Park City using soil and rock excavated during the building of the World Trade Center.

The complex sustained extensive damage during the September 11 attacks, particularly to its lobby, the granite cladding on lower levels, and the glazing. Comprehensive restoration efforts followed, involving significant repairs across all structures. The Winter Garden Atrium endured major structural harm but was ceremoniously reopened exactly one year later, on September 11, 2002.

After 9/11, a $250 million project was undertaken to renovate and expand the complex, creating a new east–west corridor connecting it to the World Trade Center site. This included extending the Winter Garden Atrium with a transit pavilion along West Street. Initial redevelopment proposals called for removing the Grand Staircase—a key entryway and amphitheater—but strong public resistance ensured its conservation. The transit pavilion officially opened in 2013 at 100 West Street.

Retail space on the lower floors was both expanded and repurposed to enhance shopping options. In 2013, 2 Brookfield Place debuted a European-style marketplace coupled with an outdoor dining terrace. Meanwhile, retail offerings at 225 Vesey Street grew to feature upscale fashion brands. During construction phases starting in early 2012, a temporary food truck court operated on North End Avenue. Subsequently, between late 2014 and early 2015, a permanent food court seating approximately 2,000 guests opened, hosting established eateries such as Le District and Hudson Eats. This venue is projected to generate around $120 million annually. Among its highlights is Le District’s Michelin-starred restaurant L'Appart. These enhancements are designed to attract visitors while complementing residential expansion in Battery Park City. Additionally, the site includes the inland harbor known as North Cove Marina.

In 2013, Brookfield Properties acquired One North End Avenue—the former headquarters of the New York Mercantile Exchange—for , incorporating it into the overall complex. Following this expansion phase, the entire World Financial Center was rebranded as Brookfield Place in 2014 to align with Brookfield’s similarly branded properties in Toronto, Calgary, and Perth.

Ownership

The Brookfield Place complex is primarily owned by Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management, except for areas occupied by American Express, which remains under American Express Company ownership. The building at 250 Vesey Street functions as Brookfield Asset Management’s U.S. headquarters. Notably, the complex has its own unique postal code: 10281. Its original development was carried out by Toronto’s Olympia and York.

Notable tenants

Brookfield Place accommodates offices for numerous prominent organizations including Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Oppenheimer & Co., RBC Capital Markets, Nomura Group, American Express, the Institute of Culinary Education, Bank of New York Mellon, Jane Street Capital, Time Inc., radio broadcasters 95.5 K-LOVE and 96.7 Air1, as well as Brookfield Asset Management. Following extensive renovations completed in 2014, the property adopted its current name. The nonprofit organization College Board, responsible for administering programs such as the Advanced Placement and the SAT, also maintains offices within the complex.

List of buildings and amenities

Building/amenity	Former names	Year inaugurated	Height	No. of floors	Total leasable area	Roof design	Remarks
200 Liberty Street	One World Financial Center	1986	577 feet (176 m)	40	1,628,000 square feet (151,200 m2)	Truncated square pyramid
225 Liberty Street	Two World Financial Center	1987	645 feet (197 m)	44	2,667,222 square feet (247,793.0 m2)	Rounded dome	Commonly referred to as the South Tower
200 Vesey Street	Three World Financial Center	1985	739 feet (225 m)	51	2,491,000 square feet (231,400 m2)	Pyramid-shaped roof	Often called the American Express Tower
250 Vesey Street	Four World Financial Center	1986	500 feet (150 m)	34	1,800,000 square feet (170,000 m2)	Ziggurat	Known informally as the North Tower
Winter Garden Atrium	Template:N/A	1988	120 feet (37 m)	10	295,000 square feet (27,400 m2)	Glass atrium structure
One North End Avenue	Template:N/A	1997	255 feet (78 m)	16	500,000 square feet (46,000 m2)	Flat roof	Also identified as 300 Vesey Street and the New York Mercantile Exchange Building; incorporated into Brookfield Place in 2013
North Cove Marina	Template:N/A	1989	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Previously known as World Trade Center Yacht Harbor and Marina; became part of Brookfield Properties along with the complex

Positioned between buildings two and three, the Winter Garden Atrium is a pavilion topped with a glass dome that houses retail outlets and dining establishments. After being reconstructed in 2002 following the September 11 attacks, it now showcases modern art installations by notable artists including Reyna Noriega, Julia Whitney Barnes, Tatiana Arocha, Anne Beffel, Jane Benson, Curtis Cuffie, Charles Goldman, Elke Lehmann, Pia Lindman, Brian P. McGrath, Andrea Ray, and Alex Villar.