NEW YORK | 219/229 East 42nd Street (Pfizer) | 348 & ? FT | 29 & 33 FLOORS

[Busy Bee]

I'm glad I'm not the structural engineer.

[HappyCapSlapper]

Originally Posted by busy bee

i'm glad i'm not the structural engineer.

r.i.p. GACE

[Busy Bee]

Definitely bad advertising

[NYguy]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...floors-after-buckling-in-pfizer-building

Damaged Manhattan Tower Owner to Reconstruct 15 Floors After Evacuation


By Natalie Wong, Nacha Cattan, and Kriston Capps
July 8, 2026

The developer behind the Midtown Manhattan tower that was evacuated over structural concerns Tuesday says it has a plan to fix the issue, including reconstructing 15 floors that were added to the original building as part of its conversion into apartments.

The height of the tower’s 21st floor, which is taller than others at 235 East 42nd St., made two columns more susceptible to load, said Nathan Berman, chief executive officer of developer Metro Loft. Those columns weren’t sufficiently reinforced, leading them to bend and causing some of the 15 cantilevered floors above to sag.

[Busy Bee]

I think this developer is seriously underestimating how this incident will make toxic the impression the building has on potential future tenants. No way in hell I'd move into that building.

[Hudson11]

They could have a modicum of success if they use two different names for each tower. The Pfizer building might not be so popular and that is where the majority of apartments will be, but they did build 11 or more stories on the other property, and that tower, despite the connection, has no apparent trouble.

[DCReid]

The buckling of two support columns at the former Pfizer headquarters in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday morning rattled more than the nation's largest office-to-residential project. It jolted a real estate industry that has been looking to the building as a bellwether for the city’s conversion boom...

Martin added that lenders could be more hesitant to finance these projects and insurance rates could rise following the national news coverage the incident has received...

Martin highlighted that the situation is uncommon — most conversions don’t involve major additions. He also expressed concern that Tuesday's incident may result in unnecessary mandates and additional costs, whether that be by lawmakers, lenders or insurance providers...

https://www.bisnow.com/new-york/news/ada...ffice-to-resi-conversion-reaction-135350

[mrnyc]

10min of a structural engineer showing you the estimated weight loads -- scary stuff

• Video Link

[NYguy]

https://www.dezeen.com/2026/07/10/metroloft-midtown-building-stable-news/

Collapsing building in New York City "now stable" according to developer





Ellen Eberhardt

Developer Metro Loft said that "at no time was the building, or any portion of it, at risk of collapse" in a statement following crew evacuations from a large office-to-residential project in Midtown Manhattan earlier this week, when portions of the interior started to crumble.

"We have been working closely with the Department of Buildings to rectify the situation," said Metro Loft. "Our team worked through the night stabilizing the affected columns, and the DOB has confirmed the structure is now stable."

"While we understand this has drawn significant attention, we want to be clear: this involves a small fraction of the building, and we are already in the process of resolving it. Reports of risk of a collapse were and are inaccurate."

As of Friday, New York City's Department of Buildings (DOB) shared an image of the installed shoring supports next to a cracked column.

"This is a localized situation affecting less than 30 apartments out of over 1,600. At no time was the building, or any portion of it, at risk of collapse," said Metro Loft. "We are in the process of addressing the issue and will fully rebuild this portion of the building in tandem with ongoing construction."

"We remain on schedule, and this work will not delay delivery of the building as it is such a small portion of the project. We are working around the clock so that operations can resume and life in the area can return to normal."