Early Tuesday morning, a 37-story building at 235 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan showed signs of severe structural distress during conversion work from office space to residential units, prompting a swift emergency response and area evacuations.

Construction workers on site noticed sagging floors and bending beams between the 21st and 26th stories, raising concerns about a possible partial collapse. The building, located near Grand Central Terminal and the United Nations headquarters, was evacuated immediately, and a supervisor called 911. Officials quickly sealed off the surrounding streets and evacuated adjacent buildings to ensure public safety.

New York City officials reported no injuries but confirmed significant damage to the mid-level floors. Inspections revealed two buckled columns, multiple cracks, and continued shifting of the structure even after responders arrived. The building remains unstable as authorities conduct a thorough investigation into the cause and extent of the damage.

Mayor Zorhan Mandani addressed the situation during a midday news briefing, stating that building inspectors had utilized drones to conduct a detailed survey. He emphasized that the area should be avoided until authorities declare it safe.

MetroLoft, the developer overseeing the conversion project, described the affected damage as limited to a small section of the building and asserted that the entire structure is not at risk of collapse. The company expressed gratitude for the prompt efforts of city agencies responding to the emergency.

The Fire Department released images showing missing facade paneling and a visibly bent vertical beam, which resembled a bent elbow, supporting the assessment of structural compromise. Despite the damage, officials indicated that the building’s steel-frame construction mitigated the risk of a total collapse.

The department noted it had received an initial report on Monday morning of bricks falling from the building, suggesting early signs of the developing hazard.

This incident has put on hold what had been the city’s largest office-to-residential conversion project, aimed at repurposing Midtown’s underutilized office stock to address New York's housing shortage. The project, slated for completion next year, now faces an uncertain future as investigators work to determine how the structural issues arose and what remedial measures may be necessary.

As the investigation continues, dozens of local businesses remain displaced, and tourists face ongoing disruptions within the several-block radius designated as a “frozen zone” by city authorities.