Manhattan Office‑to‑Residential Conversion Project Halted by Column Failure

Two steel columns buckled on the 21st floor of a Midtown Manhattan building at 235 East 42nd Street, a conversion of the former Pfizer headquarters into about 1,600 apartments. The failure caused sagging floors, prompted the evacuation of nine neighboring buildings during the morning rush hour, and led New York City’s Department of Buildings to launch safety inspections at multiple sites.

Developer MetroLoft, led by founder Nathan Berman, said the columns likely failed because the added residential loads exceeded the structural capacity, not because of a design flaw. Temporary supports were installed from the ninth floor to the roof, and an independent forensic analysis by Thornton Tomasetti has been commissioned. City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, reaffirmed support for office‑to‑residential conversions while emphasizing the need for safety and accountability. Structural engineers cited the incident as a rare but serious reminder of the importance of robust building codes and proper reinforcement.

The incident has drawn attention from investors and lenders financing similar conversion projects across the United States.