Manhattan Tower Developer Attributes Structural Risk to Rooftop Expansion, Assures Foundations Are Stable

Nathan Berman, the developer behind a major Manhattan tower conversion, explained that the structural risk of partial collapse reported on Tuesday was likely caused by the weight of a rooftop addition. The building, formerly Pfizer's headquarters, is undergoing the largest office-to-residential conversion in the U.S., adding 15 floors above the 22nd floor. Berman said two support columns on the 21st floor, which apparently were not sufficiently reinforced, buckled under the extra load, causing steel beams to bend. This led to the evacuation of nine nearby buildings, including the Israeli consulate, located between the Chrysler Building and the United Nations headquarters.

Berman emphasized that the damage was confined to the new extension and did not affect the rest of the structure. "Ninety-five percent of the building's foundations remain strong and intact," he stated, dismissing concerns that the entire building could collapse. The project aims to create 1,600 residential units, with amenities such as a rooftop pool, gym, and ground-floor retail, and is expected to be completed next year. Ahmad Tigani, chair of the city's building committee, confirmed that the project plans underwent rigorous review over the past two years.

The 150,000-square-meter building, constructed in the 1960s with a distinctive tiered wedding cake facade, will offer apartments ranging from studios to four-bedroom units, with 25% designated as affordable housing. Berman, a Ukrainian-born son of Holocaust survivors who founded MetroLoft in 1997, has converted dozens of office buildings into residential spaces, creating over 8,000 new apartments in New York City. He was described by the Financial Times in 2023 as a key figure in the growing trend of office-to-residential conversions, which he likened to performing surgery on buildings.