Midtown High-Rise Set for Partial Demolition After Dangerous Buckling

A high-rise in Midtown that displayed alarming signs of buckling on Tuesday is facing a partial demolition, though experts have cautioned that any attempt to stabilize the structure may result in severe consequences.

The 37-story former Pfizer headquarters located at 235 E. 42nd St. near Second Avenue needs immediate stabilization to avert potential local collapse, according to specialists.

Ronald Hamburger, a seasoned structural engineer involved in the federal investigation of the World Trade Center disaster, warned of “significant risk” and “the possibility of collapse” if no action is taken.

He pointed out that the buckled columns on multiple floors are only capable of supporting about a third of their intended load. Meanwhile, other intact beams and columns are experiencing “significant stress.”

The engineers will need to attach brackets to the floor columns beneath the damaged ones in order to relieve the stress on the unaffected parts of the building.

Additionally, the damaged columns must be replaced, but experts must first assess the safety of the building and the design of the new columns before any stabilization can occur.

“It should be done quickly, but it can’t be done right away,” Hamburger explained, emphasizing the need for engineers to carefully evaluate the damage.

“We expect to stabilize and repair it within a week and then move onto structural repairs,” he mentioned.

Emily Guglielmo, a structural engineer and principal at Martin/Martin, highlighted that getting engineers inside the building for stabilization can be risky.

“To minimize further evacuation concerns, a quick fix might involve installing temporary poles and shoring,” she suggested. However, she cautioned that this would require careful consideration of safety for workers entering the site.

Structural engineers will assess whether it’s safe to enter by comparing building conditions to the original plans to pinpoint how it was constructed and what may have caused its instability.

Both experts acknowledged that partial demolition is “definitely” necessary before any reconstruction can commence.

Guglielmo remarked, “Images indicate buckled columns, cracks, and sagging floors—these are generally irreparable damages.” Some damaged elements will certainly need to be removed and replaced, as pushing up a cracked floor alone won’t suffice.

The chaos unfolded on Tuesday when construction workers discovered two faulty support beams on the 21st and 22nd floors that had begun to buckle, leading to a quick evacuation of nine city blocks. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the workers inside managed to escape safely.

This incident isn’t the first safety concern at the tower, as previous records show multiple violations and complaints documented by the Department of Buildings, amounting to over $32,000 in fines from July to December 2025.

Hamburger stated that these recurring violations are alarming. The current instability is believed to stem from ongoing construction, specifically an 11-story addition to the building.

Hamburger mentioned several possible causes for the instability, including an unexpected load above the 21st floor that may have overtaxed the columns or potential damage to essential components that support the buckled column.

Guglielmo remarked, “It’s tough to pinpoint right now, but this column likely faced a higher load than anticipated. Sometimes, designs can yield components that are not sized correctly.”

“Such catastrophic failures often arise from a mix of factors,” she added. “Often, they don’t materialize until enough building elements are in place or loads are added.”