Manhattan skyscraper at risk of collapse triggers evacuation

A 37-story tower under construction near Grand Central Terminal faced collapse risk Tuesday morning when firefighters responded to reports of falling bricks from 235 East 42nd Street.

The former Pfizer global headquarters is being converted into apartments in what officials call the city's largest office-to-apartment conversion, reported 6 ABC News and The New York Times.

Construction workers on the 21st floor discovered two structural support columns buckling and proceeded to self-evacuate.

Inspectors confirmed the columns had buckled, with floors between the 21st and 26th sagging. Some reports allege floor collapses.

Despite the structural failure, no injuries occurred, and all workers were accounted for.

Officials evacuated the building and neighboring properties, including the Hampton Inn Manhattan Grand Central, and closed East 42nd Street between Second and Third avenues.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani noted a nearby school with approximately 400 children was also evacuated.

The redevelopment project, begun in 2024, is slated to create roughly 1,600 apartments, including over 400 affordable units.

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