A Manhattan high-rise undergoing conversion from offices into apartments prompted emergency evacuations Tuesday after two structural columns buckled and authorities discovered cracks and sagging floors inside the building.
The incident occurred at 235 East 42nd Street, the former global headquarters of pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The property is located in a heavily traveled section of Midtown near Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building and several hotels, offices and diplomatic facilities.
Firefighters responded shortly before 8 a.m. following reports of a structural problem at the active construction site. Inspectors later found two damaged columns around the 21st floor, along with cracking and floor deformation extending through part of the building.
Construction workers were evacuated, and officials ordered people out of several surrounding buildings as a precaution. Those affected reportedly included hotel guests, office workers and people at a nearby school and diplomatic offices.
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No injuries were reported, and city officials said no construction debris had fallen from the building. Streets around the site were temporarily closed while firefighters, engineers and building inspectors assessed whether the damaged section could continue shifting.
Fire Department Chief John Esposito initially described the situation as serious because major steel components had begun bending under the weight placed on them. Officials warned that a failure could result in a localized collapse, although they did not expect the entire steel-framed building to fall.
Emergency crews used drones to gather images and technical information without unnecessarily exposing inspectors to danger. A specialist team then moved floor by floor through the building, eventually reaching the upper levels without finding evidence that the damaged columns were continuing to move.
By Tuesday night, New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said the structure had been monitored for several hours without further movement. Contractors were permitted to begin installing temporary supports, and residents were allowed to return to some of the surrounding buildings that had been evacuated.
The emergency work is expected to continue for several days. Access restrictions and street closures may remain in place while engineers reinforce the affected floors and determine what permanent repairs will be required.
MetroLoft, one of the companies involved in the redevelopment, said the damaged area represented a small section of one of the two buildings at the site. The developer thanked emergency officials for their response and emphasized that protecting workers and people in neighboring properties was its main priority.
The former Pfizer complex is being transformed into a large residential development containing approximately 1,600 apartments. The project reflects New York City’s broader effort to convert underused office properties into housing as demand for apartments remains high and parts of the commercial real-estate market continue adjusting to remote and hybrid work.
However, converting an older office tower into housing can require major structural changes, including new floor layouts, plumbing systems, windows and residential safety features. The cause of the column damage has not yet been officially established, and authorities will need to determine whether it resulted from construction activity, design decisions, existing structural weaknesses or a combination of factors.
Why It Matters
The incident disrupted workers, families, businesses and commuters in one of Manhattan’s busiest districts. It also highlights the safety challenges involved in converting large commercial buildings into apartments. Such projects may help cities create housing faster, but they require careful engineering, inspections and oversight to ensure that structural changes do not place workers or surrounding properties at risk.
What Comes Next
Contractors are expected to continue installing temporary supports while city engineers evaluate the damaged columns and floors. Officials will also review construction plans, permits and previous inspections before deciding when the site can fully reopen and whether more extensive repairs or enforcement measures are necessary.
Video shows the structural damage that prompted evacuations at the Manhattan construction site.
This 37-storey tower in Manhattan has been evacuated after at least two structural columns buckled on its 21st floor.
Formerly the headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, the building at 235 East 42nd Street had been undergoing renovation work to convert it from office… pic.twitter.com/2p8Noduibi
— The B1M (@TheB1M) July 8, 2026
