Manhattan skyscraper evacuation after buckling

On July 7, 2026, a 37-story skyscraper at 235 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, the former Pfizer headquarters undergoing conversion into luxury apartments, experienced buckling of structural columns on the 21st floor, leading to the evacuation of the building and surrounding blocks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported two buckled columns, multiple cracks, and sagging floors, with additional movement observed. The United States — New York City Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Buildings responded, establishing a frozen zone between 40th and 45th Streets and 1st and 3rd Avenues. Nine buildings were evacuated, including a school with 400 students and a Hilton Worldwide — Hampton by Hilton. Developer Metro Loft stated the entire building was not at risk of collapse. No injuries were reported. The building had seven violations between July and December 2025, resulting in over $32,000 in fines. Governor Kathy Hochul dispatched state inspectors. The project, one of the largest office-to-residential conversions in city history, was scheduled for completion in early 2027.