Officials say a Manhattan high-rise at 235 East 42nd Street remains unstable after structural columns buckled during construction, forcing evacuations across several city blocks.
What Happened At The Building
Construction workers noticed cracks inside the building around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The FDNY said workers spotted structural support columns beginning to buckle on the 21st and 22nd floors and self-evacuated. This caused the 21st through 26th floors of the high-rise to start caving under the stress, according to ABC7 New York.
Where The Building Is Located
The high-rise sits at 235 East 42nd Street, on the corner of East 42nd Street and Second Avenue. It is a 1970s-era office building that once served as the global headquarters of pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The site is located about a block from the Chrysler Building and sits between Grand Central Terminal and the United Nations headquarters, based on reporting from ABC7 New York.
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Why The Building Was Unstable
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the building remained unstable, noting that officials observed continued movement in one of the columns even after city teams arrived on site. Fire Department Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said an assessment was carried out and the building was found to be unstable, according to CNN.
Scale Of The Evacuation
The city established a frozen zone covering several blocks around the building following 911 calls made around 8 a.m. Seven other nearby buildings were evacuated, including a Hampton Inn and a school with about 400 students. The closed zone stretched from 40th to 45th Streets, between First and Third Avenues, according to ABC News.
Type Of Collapse Officials Are Watching For
FDNY Fire Chief John Esposito explained that because the building has a steel frame, a full collapse is unlikely. He said any failure would more likely be a localized collapse rather than a total one, based on details reported by NBC New York.
Stabilization Efforts Underway
By the afternoon, a six-person team entered the building and completed an initial assessment, allowing contractors to begin installing temporary shoring to stabilize the structure. Officials said this emergency shoring work was expected to continue through the evening and into the following days, according to ABC News.
Injuries And Worker Safety
No injuries were reported. All construction workers on site were safely evacuated, and police confirmed everyone was accounted for, according to NBC News.
Background On The Construction Project
The building is part of an ongoing office-to-residential conversion led by developers Metro Loft and David Werner Real Estate Investments, with architecture firm Gensler. The project involves converting two adjoining 1970s-era office towers into more than 1,600 rental apartments, making it one of the largest office-to-residential conversions in New York City’s history, according to NBC New York.
Prior Safety Complaints At The Site
Before Tuesday’s evacuation, city Department of Buildings records show multiple complaints had been filed about the site, including reports of falling debris and unsafe conditions. Building department records also show the project had previously been fined for safety violations, including glass and metal falling from the structure, according to CNN.
Transit And Traffic Disruptions
Several bus routes in the area were delayed or detoured because of the evacuation, including the M42, M101, M102, M103, and M15 lines. Subway service from Grand Central Terminal was not affected, according to CNN.
FAQ: 235 East 42nd Street Building Instability
Q: What happened at 235 East 42nd Street?
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, construction workers noticed cracks and reported falling bricks around 8 a.m. When the FDNY arrived, they found buckling and sagging floor conditions, with two structural support columns buckling on the 21st floor. CBS News
Q: What building is located at this address?
The site is the former headquarters of Pfizer, currently undergoing conversion into residential apartments. It consists of two connected buildings, one of which is a 33-story high-rise (reports have also described the overall project as a 37-story structure). Manhattan high-rise, former Pfizer building, unstable due to buckling beams – NBC New York +3
Q: Which floors were affected?
Officials said the structural stress caused the 21st through 26th floors of the building to start caving under the stress. ABC News
Q: Were there any injuries?
No injuries were reported, and all workers have been accounted for, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. CBS News
Q: How many buildings were evacuated?
Mayor Mamdani said seven other buildings near 235 East 42nd Street were also evacuated, including a nearby Hampton Inn, and a school with 400 students was among the evacuated locations. ABC NewsABC News
Q: Is a full building collapse expected?
Officials say a full collapse is unlikely. Fire Chief John Esposito explained that due to the steel-framed construction, “it would not be a total collapse, it would be more of a localized collapse.” A CBS report similarly noted the entire building itself is not at risk of collapse, according to a statement from developer Metro Loft. NBC New YorkCBS News
Q: What area of Manhattan is closed off?
A frozen zone in the area stretches from 40th to 45th streets between First and Third avenues, and the area is shut down to pedestrians and vehicular traffic. The FDNY also established a separate “collapse zone.” Unstable building on East 42nd Street forces multiple evacuations in Midtown Manhattan – CBS New York +2
Q: Has the building stopped moving?
As of Tuesday afternoon, reports were mixed. Esposito noted the building has continued to move since we have been on scene, though one city official told ABC News that the building had not moved for two hours as of around 2:45 p.m. ABC NewsABC News
Q: What is being done to stabilize the building?
A team was sent in to assess the structure, and officials say contractors can now move forward with the installation of temporary shoring to stabilize the building. The buildings commissioner said workers will need to add emergency beams and columns to stabilize the compromised ones. ABC7 New YorkNBC New York
Q: How long will the operation take?
Officials said the operation to stabilize 235 E. 42nd St. is expected to last “into the night.” ABC7 New York
Q: Has this construction site had prior safety issues?
Yes. In July 2025, the buildings department fined the contractor $5,000 after a piece of window glass fell from the eighth floor, and in August 2025, a metal panel fell from the 33rd floor. There’s also an active lawsuit from a construction worker who suffered a “grave injury” at the site in September 2025. Unstable building on East 42nd Street forces multiple evacuations in Midtown Manhattan – CBS New York +2
Q: Who is the developer of the project?
The conversion project is being developed by Metro Loft and David Werner Real Estate Investments with architectural firm Gensler. CNN
Q: Has this disrupted transit in the area?
Yes. Several bus routes throughout New York City have been delayed, though subway service from Grand Central Terminal has not been impacted. CNNCNN
