Manhattan Apartment Tower at Risk of Collapse, Surrounding Area Evacuated

A residential tower in the heart of New York City is threatening to collapse, prompting the evacuation of nearby buildings and major traffic diversions. Construction workers reported structural problems this morning at what was formerly the Pfizer headquarters, a 38-story building from 1961 that has been undergoing conversion into 1,600 apartments since 2024.

According to workers, two steel support columns have buckled. Concrete has come loose, glass has popped out of its frames, and several of the upper floors are sagging. No injuries have occurred, and the workers who discovered the deformations were able to exit the building safely.

Adjacent properties including a hotel and a school with 400 students have been evacuated as a precaution. Traffic has been rerouted over a wide area since the morning rush hour. The fire department is currently assessing options, and the mayor is being kept informed of the situation.

The building, located within walking distance of Times Square, was once the global headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer before being sold for redevelopment into luxury apartments.