Late Tuesday, New York officials said the former Pfizer tower on East 42nd Street was stable after emergency crews shored up two buckled structural columns.
Shortly before 8 a.m., reports of bricks falling from the 21st floor led responders to discover continued movement in one damaged column, triggering evacuations and street closures.
By Wednesday morning, traffic was still restricted on East 42nd and 43rd Streets between Second and Third Avenues, and five nearby buildings remained partially or fully evacuated.
No injuries were reported, all construction workers were accounted for, and about 400 children were evacuated from a nearby school during the incident.
The 37-story high-rise is being converted into 1,500 apartments, a project already facing scrutiny after complaints since 2025 and more than $32,000 in construction-safety fines.