New York Construction Report staff writer
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recognized members of the Department of Buildings and Fire Department of New York on July 19 for their response to a structural collapse at a Midtown Manhattan high-rise under construction earlier this month.
Mamdani thanked first responders for their work after two structural columns buckled on the 21st floor of 235 E. 42nd St. on July 7, prompting evacuations and concerns that the 37-story building could collapse.
“When two columns buckled on the 21st floor of 235 E 42nd Street, City workers jumped into action,” Mamdani said. “We’re fortunate to have dedicated civil servants like these.”
The former Pfizer headquarters was stabilized after contractors installed extensive temporary shoring. City officials reported no additional movement in the damaged columns following the emergency stabilization, allowing contractors to begin repair work.
The building was being converted from office space into about 1,600 apartments, a redevelopment that includes adding floors to the existing structure as part of the residential conversion.
The structural emergency began July 7, when construction workers observed cracks and buckling in structural columns. The affected floors began to sag, leading workers to evacuate the building and city officials to establish a safety zone around the property. No injuries were reported.
Emergency crews and city agencies worked to assess the building and determine the measures needed to prevent further movement. The response ultimately allowed stabilization crews to install temporary structural supports while the city began a broader investigation.
The New York City Department of Buildings has ordered a forensic investigation into the cause of the structural failure. An independent engineering review is examining project plans, construction records and inspection work.
The investigation has also expanded beyond 235 E. 42nd St., with city officials scrutinizing other projects involving parties connected to the Midtown conversion, including the developer and inspection firm involved in the project.
The cause of the structural failure has not been determined, however engineering experts have raised the possibility of an engineering or design issue related to the redevelopment work, including changes to the building’s structural loads, but those theories remain under investigation.
