What Is Will and John World Trade Center
Will and John World Trade Center refers to the commercial office complex at the rebuilt World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, anchored by the twin towers designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The complex includes One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1,776 feet, along with Two, Three, Four, and Seven World Trade Center, plus the retail and transit hub at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, also known as the Oculus, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns the core complex and leases space to private operators, while Silverstein Properties manages the non-public retail and office leases under long-term agreements. The complex integrates office, retail, and transit functions, with direct connections to the PATH train and multiple subway lines, and serves as a major node in the regional economy. Forbes
The redevelopment of the World Trade Center site followed the September 11, 2001 attacks, with the Port Authority leading a public-private partnership to rebuild the area as a mixed-use district. The original Twin Towers were designed by Minoru Yamasaki and completed in 1973; the new complex aims to achieve LEED Gold certification for multiple buildings and incorporates advanced safety features such as reinforced concrete cores and wider stairwells. The total cost of the rebuild has exceeded $25 billion, funded through a combination of insurance proceeds, Port Authority bonds, and private investment from Silverstein and other developers. The complex now houses thousands of office workers daily and includes memorial and museum spaces that draw millions of visitors annually.
Key Tenants and Leasing Data
One World Trade Center remains the flagship leaseholder hub, with major tenants including Condé Nast, which moved its headquarters into the building in 2014, and the State of New York, which occupies significant floor space under a long-term lease. Other notable tenants include the advertising agency BBDO, financial services firms, and technology companies, with the building achieving occupancy rates above 90% in recent years. Two World Trade Center has seen leasing activity led by groups such as the financial services firm Cushman & Wakefield and media companies, while Three World Trade Center hosts tenants including the advertising agency GroupM and various technology firms. Four World Trade Center, completed in 2013, has attracted tenants such as the financial services firm Morgan Stanley and the law firm Covington & Burling, with the building achieving LEED Gold certification. SEC
Seven World Trade Center, the first building completed in the new complex in 2006, houses tenants including the financial services firm Goldman Sachs and the law firm WilmerHale, and features a modernist design with a crystalline glass facade. The World Trade Center Transportation Hub, or Oculus, serves as a retail and transit space with stores and restaurants, and its design references the path of a bird taking flight. Retail leasing at the Oculus and the adjacent Westfield World Trade Center mall includes brands such as Apple, Pandora, and Sephora, with the retail space drawing both commuters and tourists. The complex also includes the 9/11 Memorial Museum, which operates as a nonprofit and charges admission, contributing to the cultural and educational function of the site.