New York City buildings officials expressed confidence Tuesday night that a buckling Midtown skyscraper, which had prompted a large evacuation and street closures, is now stabilizing. Emergency crews worked overnight to shore up the structure of the under-construction, 37-story former Pfizer headquarters located on East 42nd Street near Second Avenue.
Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani stated at a press conference that the emergency shoring measures, implemented after extensive consultation with the building owner, contractor, and their licensed professionals, have stabilized the situation. This work allowed for a reduction in the evacuated “frozen zone” to a few surrounding blocks.
The skyscraper, undergoing conversion from commercial to residential use, had experienced “shifting” and prompted a dramatic evacuation during the morning rush. Nine blocks were initially closed down, and city officials initiated efforts to avert a potential catastrophe. A third-party engineer was brought in to verify the safety of the structure for emergency crews to install the necessary shoring, which included emergency struts or jacks to support weak points where beams were described as “bending like cigarattes.”
Commissioner Tigani indicated that new steel has also been installed to enhance stability and facilitate the movement of workers and materials. Throughout Tuesday, the building’s movement was monitored both internally and externally, with no new movement observed as of Tuesday evening. Tigani assured that protocols are in place to quickly evacuate people if any movement is detected, but emphasized that the situation was stable and safe as of Tuesday night.
As a result of the stabilization efforts, a partial evacuation order has been lifted from several blocks. Currently, only East 42nd and East 43rd Streets between Second and Third Avenues remain restricted to vehicular traffic. Other traffic and pedestrian restrictions in the previously affected zone have been lifted, with officials planning to reopen Second and Third Avenues first. Department of Buildings personnel will be on-site to manage the situation.
Four buildings remain under a full evacuation order: 815 Second Ave., 235 East 43rd St., 321 E 43rd St., and 225 East 43rd St. Additionally, a building at 217 East 43rd St. is under a partial evacuation order for its ground-floor restaurant, though residential floors have been re-occupied. All other buildings previously under a full evacuation order can now be re-occupied.
While an exact timeline for full stabilization was not provided, Commissioner Tigani assured the public that the city is working diligently to ensure safety in the affected areas and for those traveling through the neighborhood. He reiterated that no further movement has been detected, contributing to the confidence in reopening areas to the public.