Foster to design WTC tower.

The famed British architect, Lord Norman Foster, has been chosen to design the next phase of the World Trade Center complex--a mixed-use building at 200 Greenwich St.

The Silverstein camp has revealed that the building will contain 2.4 million s/f of office space and 130,000 s/f for retail, but design renderings have not yet been released.

Construction on the project is expected to start in 2009, with a projected completion date of 2011. 200 Greenwich St. will be the third building to rise out of the ground on the WTC site.

According to Governor George Pataki, who has just committed $1.6 billion in Liberty Bonds for the WTC redevelopment, "The selection of Lord Norman Foster to design Tower Two is just the latest signal that the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site is moving forward in achieving its destiny as a world-class central business district.

"We look forward to seeing his vision for the tower and to commencing construction on the remaining signature projects--the Freedom Tower and 'Reflecting Absence,' the memorial to our nearly 3,000 lost heroes this spring."

"As he has proven time and again--from Hong Kong to London to New York City--Norman Foster understands how to design a bold urban icon while simultaneously enhancing the environment and quality of life of the building's occupants," said Larry Silverstein. "There is no doubt that he will add yet another remarkable jewel in downtown's skyline."

In New York, Foster is best known to creating the vision for the iconic new Hearst Tower on Eighth Avenue and 56th Street. He has also recently been appointed as the architect for a high-rise hotel-condominium building at 610 Lexington Ave.

According to Silverstein, Foster was chosen not only because of his world-class status, but also for his ability to integrate street-level retail with a commercial high-rise.