Midtown Manhattan hotel evacuations after former Pfizer tower buckles, streets closed

Hotel guests near Grand Central Terminal were forced out of at least two evacuated buildings after a 37-story former Pfizer headquarters at 235 East 42nd Street buckled and sent falling bricks into the street, turning a Midtown construction site into a fast-moving emergency. Travelers carried bags onto sidewalks and scrambled for alternate rooms as officials widened the response around the tower, which is being converted into residences.

The incident began around 7:57 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on July 7, 2026, after falling bricks, cracks and buckling appeared inside the building. Two structural support columns on the 21st floor buckled, and floors sagged between the 21st and 26th floors. Crews were pulled from the site, and all construction workers were accounted for. No injuries were reported.

City agencies closed a multi-block frozen zone from 40th Street to 45th Street between First Avenue and Third Avenue, cutting off traffic around some of Midtown Manhattan’s most heavily used blocks. At least seven neighboring buildings were evacuated as a precaution. A nearby school was also cleared.

The building’s steel-frame design made a total collapse less likely, but a localized collapse remained possible. Emergency crews were assessing the structure floor by floor to stabilize the damaged section and prevent further movement. The building continued to shift after responders arrived.

The disruption rippled through the neighborhood far beyond the construction fence. The tower sits near Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Times Square and the United Nations headquarters, placing the emergency in the middle of a dense corridor of commuters, office workers, hotel guests and daily deliveries. For people staying in nearby hotels, the evacuation meant an abrupt search for rooms elsewhere in a part of Manhattan where capacity is already tight.

MetroLoft Management and David Werner Real Estate Investments are behind the conversion, with Gensler involved in the design. City records show multiple safety violations and fines during construction, including incidents involving falling glass, metal and a worker fall. The project is expected to produce roughly 1,500 to 1,600 rental units, including about 400 affordable units.