Manhattan high-rise remains unstable after columns buckle during office-to-residential conversion

A Midtown Manhattan high-rise under construction remained unstable Tuesday after officials found buckled columns, cracks, and sagging floors at 235 East 42nd Street, a former Pfizer office building being converted into residential use.

FDNY officials said the structural issues were found between the 21st and 26th floors after a call came in around 8 a.m. The building and nearby properties were evacuated, including a school and the Israeli consulate. No injuries have been reported.

Just before at 8 a.m. Tuesday, the FDNY received reports of a structural issue at an active construction site on East 42nd Street between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. The call came in for reported issues at a 37-story building at 235 East 42nd Street that is currently… pic.twitter.com/NavUpNGAJE
— FDNY (@FDNY) July 7, 2026

The 37-story building is part of a major office-to-residential conversion led by Metro Loft, with Gensler listed as design architect, interior architect, and architect-of-reco...