Key facts
- A 37-story Manhattan high-rise under construction has stabilized after buckling support columns.
- The incident prompted evacuations of the building and seven nearby structures, including a school.
- Temporary shoring and beams have been installed on floors 18 to 23.
- Officials have monitored the structure and reported no additional movement since Tuesday morning.
- The building is being converted from office space, formerly Pfizer's headquarters, into residential apartments.
A 37-story high-rise building in midtown Manhattan, undergoing conversion from office space to residential apartments, has stabilized after two support columns buckled, prompting evacuations and street closures. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Wednesday that temporary shoring and beams have been installed on floors 18 to 23, and workers are adding more support to additional floors. Officials have reported no additional movement of the structure since Tuesday morning.
The incident began Tuesday morning when bricks fell from the building, leading emergency responders to discover the buckled columns on the 21st and 22nd floors and sagging floors. This prompted the evacuation of the building itself, as well as six neighboring buildings, including a school, and the closure of East 42nd Street. While some evacuated residents have been allowed to return, four buildings remain completely evacuated, and a ground-floor restaurant is still shuttered.
The building, formerly Pfizer's corporate headquarters, is being converted into a 1,600-unit apartment building scheduled for completion in 2027. Mayor Mamdani expressed support for office-to-residential conversions to address the city's housing affordability crisis and stated that the city's building department will conduct a thorough assessment to ensure safety and code compliance before further construction can proceed.