NEW YORK — The world’s largest equities marketplace, the New York Stock Exchange, has signed a 10-year, 64,884 sq. ft. lease at 14 Wall St. — a move that indicates lower Manhattan will reclaim its prominence, industry observers say.

The NYSE needed the additional space to replace its office formerly located at 2 World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The new NYSE corporate offices at 14 Wall St. now will be located directly across the street from the NYSE's main facility at 11 Wall St. The space at 14 Wall St. includes the entire 14th and 19th floors of the 37-story, 957,000 sq.ft. building, as well as part of the 12th floor.

Previous plans to build a new trading facility across from the current Exchange building, on the block bounded by Broad, William, Wall Street and Exchange Place, had been put on hold following the attacks.

Richard Ellis of Richard L. Ellis Associates represented the NYSE in the transaction. Newmark & Company Real Estate’s Ronald Goldberger and Michael Levy negotiated the long-term lease on behalf of building owner W12/14 Wall Street Acquisition Associates.

The building is currently 96% occupied and houses such firms as Deutsche Bank and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.