Workers stabilized the building in Manhattan, whose load-bearing columns had deformed

New York – Construction workers in downtown Manhattan in New York temporarily stabilized a skyscraper on Tuesday evening, whose load-bearing columns had deformed and were at risk of partial collapse. Authorities lifted the evacuation of some nearby buildings; however, the order still applies to four others, the AP agency reported. The building, constructed in the 1970s and previously serving as the headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is located near New York's landmarks including the Chrysler Building and the United Nations headquarters.

Reports of stability issues with the building, which is undergoing renovation and conversion from office space to apartments, were received by firefighters around 8:00 PM (2:00 PM CEST) on Tuesday. Workers on-site and people in nearby buildings, including a school and the Israeli consulate, were hurriedly evacuated. City Mayor Zohran Mamdani then stated that the building is unstable and labeled the situation as very serious.

From the street, a severely bent load-bearing column was visible through a large window on the 21st floor. The fire department posted its photographs on Facebook and noted that they also discovered several cracks and bowed floors. In response to a question about concerns regarding the building's collapse, New York City Fire Commissioner John Esposito stated that given how the building is constructed, it would not be a total collapse, but rather just a part of the building would fall.

City officials found no further movement of the damaged columns during inspections of individual floors and allowed workers at the construction site to begin urgent work aimed at stabilizing the building. In the evening, workers were seen reinforcing damaged areas inside the glass and steel skyscraper. Stabilization efforts are expected to continue in the following days, which will impact the busy area of Manhattan near the famous Grand Central terminal, a hub for commuters, local residents, and tourists alike.

The building located at 235 East 42nd Street is set to have more than 1,600 apartments created through the renovation. The redevelopment is expected to be the largest of its kind in New York City's history, according to the architectural firm Gensler, which is behind the project. According to city records, New York has fined the project several times for violating safety regulations. For instance, glass and metal parts have fallen from the construction site. In one incident, a worker also fell from a ladder.