A large part of what makes New York such a strong player in the financial world is the World Financial Center. The World Financial Center is home to many big business financial players such as Merrill Lynch, American Express, and Lehman Brothers. The World Financial Center is made up of several large buildings that are located in Lower Manhattan, New York City and are just across West Street from the site of the former World Trade Center. In fact, all four of the WFC buildings suffered significant damage during the attacks of 9/11 and have since been reconstructed, owing to the value of the complex. The complex was designed by architect Cesar Pelli and was initially constructed between 1985 and 1988.

The Buildings

One World Financial Center

The One World Financial Center was constructed in 1986 and is the headquarters for Lehman Brothers, National Financial Services, Wickersham and Taft, Cadwalader, Deloitte and Touche, and Dow Jones and Co. The building stands 577 feet tall, has 40 stories, and is located at 200 Liberty Street.

Two World Financial Center

The Two World Financial center is home to Merrill Lynch, Commerz Bank, as well as Nomura Securities. The building, which was constructed in 1987, stands 645 feet tall, has 44 stories, and is located at 225 Liberty Street.

Three World Financial Center

The Three World Financial Center is headquarters for American Express, as well as American Express Morgan and Finnegan. The building itself has a pyramid-shaped rooftop, stands 739 feet tall, has 51 stories and is located at 200 Vessey Street.

Four World Financial Center

The Four World Financial Center has 1,800,000 square feet of area. Merrill Lynch occupies this building, as well as One WFC, and utilizes the 34-story building to conduct business. The Four World Financial Center is located at 250 Vesey Street and stands 500 feet tall.

Winter Garden

Winter Garden was constructed in 1988 and can be found between Two World Financial Center and Three World Financial Center. This glass pavilion is home to lush plant life as well as stores, cafes, and shops such as Ann Taylor, Eckerd, The Gap, Banana Republic, and Hallmark. The area that makes up Winter Garden is 295,000 square feet in size.

NYMEX Building

The Nymex Building is 16 stories in size and was a late addition to the World Financial Center. Built in 1997, it is home to NYMEX and NYBOT. The building itself is located at 1 North End Avenue.