New York: Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan, one of the United States’ largest and most influential business districts, forms one of New York’s two main high-rise clusters, alongside Midtown. For decades, its skyline was defined by the iconic Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, standing from 1973 until their tragic destruction on September 11, 2001. The early 21st century brought a period of intense rebuilding, marked by the rise of One World Trade Center and a wave of innovative architectural projects by major figures such as Santiago Calatrava and Frank Gehry. Among the significant additions is the Goldman Sachs building, a 225-meter tower overlooking the World Trade Center site, reflecting the district’s rapid regeneration.

Our architectural walk begins at the new 7 World Trade Center by SOM and continues south toward Battery Park, passing through some of New York’s most emblematic streets and contemporary landmarks. Along Wall Street, the tour takes in Gehry’s striking Beekman Tower before moving toward Little Italy, where standout works include the Blue Tower by Bernard Tschumi, the Thor Building by Marcel Wanders, and Jean Nouvel’s Mercer Residences. The route continues past the Store for Art and Architecture by Steven Holl, the New Museum by SANAA, the Prada store by OMA, and the Alessi store by Asymptote. Further highlights include I.M. Pei’s University Plaza, Steven Holl’s NY Department of Philosophy, and the cutting-edge Cooper Union building by Morphosis—together offering a rich overview of Lower Manhattan’s architectural diversity and evolution.