A 37-story building in Midtown Manhattan, formerly the headquarters of Pfizer, is exhibiting signs of structural instability and is in danger of a localized collapse, city officials announced Tuesday. The building, located at 235 East 42nd Street and undergoing conversion from commercial to residential use, was evacuated along with seven adjacent buildings.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the structure has been observed to be "shifting" since early Tuesday morning, raising concerns among emergency responders. "The concern is that since we have been on site in the early morning, we have seen continued shifting of the structure," Mamdani said during a press conference.
FDNY Chief of Operations John Esposito explained that due to the building's steel-frame construction, any collapse would likely be "localized" rather than a total failure. "That remains our concern – that it’s moving," Esposito added, noting the possibility of a "pancake"-like collapse.
According to city officials, two support columns on the 21st floor have buckled, and another shows movement, indicating the building remains unstable. The compromised sections appear to be on the 17th and 21st floors, below newly added levels.
"This is a minute-by-minute assessment," Mamdani said, warning the public to stay away from the area. A "frozen zone" has been established from East 40th to 45th streets between First and Third avenues, prohibiting all pedestrian and vehicle traffic due to the immediate safety risks.
City Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani indicated that the cause of the structural failure will be investigated once the building is secured. The project at 235 East 42nd Street is noted as one of the largest commercial-to-residential conversion projects in the nation, with contractors adding 11 new floors to a 22-story section of the building.