Midtown Manhattan Building Evacuated Over Risk of Collapse

A 38-story Midtown Manhattan building — the former global headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer — was evacuated Tuesday morning after structural engineers discovered buckling support columns and sagging floors, prompting officials to warn of a potential collapse. More than 100 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene, and at least nine neighboring buildings were also evacuated as a precaution.

What Happened

The New York Fire Department received a call around 8 a.m. EDT about bricks falling from the building at 235 East 42nd Street, between Second and Third Avenues. Minutes later, police officers arriving at the scene were told that construction workers on the 21st floor had observed columns beginning to collapse. Raw footage from inside, captured by a construction worker, showed crumbling steel beams on the 21st floor.

According to the Associated Press, two support columns buckled on the 21st and 22nd floors, and floors were found to be sagging between the 21st and 26th floors. No injuries were reported, and all construction workers inside the building were accounted for.

Widespread Evacuations

The evacuation extended well beyond the affected building. A school with approximately 400 children and a Hampton Inn hotel were among at least nine neighboring structures evacuated as a precaution. Street closures were implemented on East 42nd Street between Second and Third Avenues, disrupting the morning commute in one of Manhattan’s busiest corridors.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the evacuations at a press conference, stating: “Our top priority right now is the safety of those who live in this area and the safety of those who work in this area.” When asked whether the building was at risk of collapse, Mamdani said first responders found “structural issues with the building” and urged those in the immediate area to follow instructions from emergency personnel.

Kevin Oglesbee, a hotel guest from Chicago who was evacuated from the Hampton Inn, told NBC New York: “We were on the 21st floor — so sprinting down the stairs, and they said evacuated over to 2nd Avenue. All of our bags, and laptop bag and work bag, is back up at the hotel room. We’re supposed to leave for the airport in a few hours.”

The Building and Its Conversion

The 1970s-era tower at 235 East 42nd Street served as Pfizer’s global headquarters for decades before the pharmaceutical company relocated. The building is currently undergoing what has been billed as the largest office-to-residential conversion in New York City history.

Developed by MetroLoft and David Werner Real Estate Investments, with Gensler serving as design architect, interior architect, and architect-of-record, the project aims to transform the vacant commercial spaces into 1,602 apartments — more than 400 of which would be designated as affordable housing. The plan includes adding 19 stories atop the original 10-story tower at the adjoining 219 E. 42nd Street while reconfiguring and recladding the main tower with a new high-performance facade. Completion was expected in 2027.

Investigation and Response

The New York City Department of Buildings confirmed that its structural engineers were on scene, using FDNY drone footage to assess the damage. The agency posted on social media: “DOB structural engineers are on scene investigating reports of potential structural issues at 235 East 42 street, Manhattan. First responders have advised commuters avoid the area and use alternate routes.”

As of the latest reports, the exact cause of the column buckling had not been determined. Investigators are examining whether the structural failure was related to the construction work — particularly the addition of more than a dozen stories atop the original structure — or a pre-existing deficiency in the 1970s-era building.

Broader Implications

The incident raises significant questions about the structural integrity of older office buildings being converted to residential use, a trend that has accelerated in New York City due to tax incentives and zoning changes aimed at addressing the housing shortage. As the city’s largest office-to-residential conversion, this project was seen as a bellwether for similar transformations across Midtown East.

Bisnow reported that the incident could prompt increased scrutiny of structural assessments and safety protocols during conversion projects. Gensler, the architectural firm leading the design, had not responded to requests for comment as of Tuesday afternoon.

What to Watch

Investigators are expected to determine the cause of the structural failure in the coming days. The timeline for when evacuated residents and workers can return to neighboring buildings has not yet been announced. The incident may also affect the timeline and regulatory approval process for the conversion project, which was already one of the most closely watched real estate developments in the city.