Two World Trade Centre breaks ground, completing 9/11 site redevelopment PHOTO

Construction has officially begun on Two World Trade Centre, marking the start of the final commercial office tower at New York City's rebuilt World Trade Centre complex nearly 25 years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, CBS News reports.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 9 morning for the 55-story skyscraper, which will rise just north of the Oculus transportation hub. Spanning nearly 2 million square feet, the tower will be built on land owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a long-term ground lease.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and City Comptroller Mark Levine attended the ceremony.

"This is not just a sign of confidence in the future of our city — it is an investment in thousands of good jobs, the local economy, sustainability and the final piece of the rebuilt World Trade Center," Mamdani said in a statement. "This project will continue to benefit New Yorkers for many decades to come."

The tower will serve as the new headquarters of American Express, which will occupy the building as its sole tenant. Once completed, the office space is expected to accommodate up to 10,000 employees.

Construction is scheduled for completion by 2031.

According to project officials, the development is expected to create more than 3,200 jobs during construction, generate approximately $5.9 billion in economic activity for New York City, and contribute $6.3 billion to the state's economy.

American Express has not disclosed the cost of the project. A spokesperson for the Port Authority previously said the skyscraper will not receive financing or incentives from the state, the city, or the Port Authority.

The project concludes a redevelopment effort that has spanned more than two decades. Earlier plans envisioned a tower of up to 80 stories, with companies including News Corp. and 21st Century Fox considered as potential anchor tenants. Those proposals never came to fruition, and the project faced additional setbacks after the COVID-19 pandemic sharply reduced demand for office space.

With American Express committing to the site, construction of the long-delayed tower is now moving forward, completing the commercial redevelopment of the World Trade Center complex.

By Vafa Guliyeva