New York Skyscraper Evacuated Over Structural Concerns, Including Israeli Consulate

A 38-story skyscraper under construction in Manhattan was evacuated Tuesday morning after two support columns on the 21st and 22nd floors bent, raising fears of structural collapse. The evacuation order extended to neighboring buildings, including the Israeli consulate in New York, which also houses Israel's UN mission and defense procurement offices. Emergency services responded shortly before 8 a.m. following reports of falling bricks from the building on East 42nd Street near Grand Central Station.

Fire officials discovered floor settling and tilting in several parts of the building, prompting closure of nearby streets. New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani emphasized the priority of resident and worker safety, noting the building remains unstable but the main concern is localized collapse rather than total failure. No injuries have been reported.

The building, formerly Pfizer's corporate headquarters, is undergoing one of New York's largest office-to-residential conversions, adding 19 floors and over 1,600 apartments across two adjacent buildings. The developers, Metro Loft and David Werner Real Estate Investment, are led by Orthodox Jewish entrepreneurs Nathan Berman and David Werner. The city's building department previously filed a safety complaint over foundation work lacking full permits.

Israeli Consul General Ophir Akunis confirmed all consulate staff were safely evacuated and instructed teams to quickly restore normal operations and consular services. Labor union representatives suggested cost-cutting may have led to insufficient steel reinforcement to support the added weight. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations proceed.