2 WTC May Finally Rise as Deal on Amex HQ Move Reported to Be 'Close'

Conceptual rendering of 2 World Trade Center, envisioned to be the second tallest building on the World Trade Center site. Credit: Foster + Partners/Visualhouse

The last of the unbuilt office towers at the World Trade Center may finally rise.

American Express is “close to a deal” to make 2 World Trade Center its new headquarters, Bloomberg reported. If the agreement goes through, it may clear the way for Silverstein Properties to finance what is currently designed as an 80-story tower on a full block adjacent to the Oculus. The move would be a short hop from American Express’s current home at 200 Vesey Street in Brookfield Place.

Spokesmen for Silverstein Properties and for the owner of the site, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, declined to comment. A spokeswoman for American Express did not respond to a request for comment.

Mechanical equipment and a beer garden occupy the structure that is on the site today.

News Corp. and 21st Century Fox had once appeared ready to anchor 2 World Trade Center until the Rupert Murdoch-owned companies backed out in 2016. Silverstein had scrapped an earlier design by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners in favor of one by Bjarke Ingels Group that was specially suited for News Corp. With that deal off, Silverstein later brought back Foster who revised his design.

As far back as September 2024, Silverstein and American Express were in talks over 2 World Trade Center, The Real Deal reported then.

If built as now planned, 2 World Trade Center would be second only to 1 World Trade Center as the tallest building on the site. Silverstein Properties developed 3, 4 and 7 World Trade Center and is the co-developer with Brookfield Properties of 5 World Trade Center, a residential tower that is yet to begin construction.