Column Buckling Forces Halt to Manhattan Office-to-Apartment Conversion
City officials and the developer Metro Loft evacuated a former Pfizer headquarters in Midtown Manhattan after two steel columns buckled on the 21st floor, according to NBC New York. The buckling caused sagging floors and prompted the evacuation of the site and nearby structures, with no injuries reported, as detailed by The New York Times. Street closures were imposed while crews assessed the damage, and ABC7 New York noted visible deformation on the affected floor of the 37-story high-rise. Emergency shoring was installed to stabilize the compromised sections, and AP News said officials considered the rest of the structure sound.
The Department of Buildings confirmed that temporary steel supports had been placed throughout the building, and CNN reported that the Steamfitters Local 638 Union assisted with the work. Despite the incident, the developer told investors the conversion to apartments would stay on schedule for completion by 2027, as The New York Times reported. Forbes added that officials declared the building structurally stable while evacuations and street closures continued.
