Manhattan High-Rise Stabilized: MetroLoft Addresses Concerns of Collapse
A Manhattan high-rise faced concerns of collapse due to buckled columns, leading to evacuations. The developer, MetroLoft, reassured that the building was never at risk of collapsing and worked with the Department of Buildings to stabilize it.
Emergency responders found two buckled support columns and sagging floors in the 37-story structure, prompting evacuations. MetroLoft's founder, Nathan Berman, clarified that the issue was localized and manageable, affecting a small portion of the building.
Despite initial fears of a collapse, the primary concern was a localized collapse rather than a structural failure of the entire building. Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that the building had been stabilized, and investigations into the cause were underway.
The damage was attributed to added weight from the ongoing conversion of offices to residential units, leading to overloaded columns. Berman dismissed claims of insufficient structural steel and emphasized that the project had been designed and approved by structural engineers.
The project, converting the former Pfizer headquarters into apartments, is on track for completion in 2027 after replacing the damaged columns and addressing the sagging floors. The developer remains confident in the project's progress and safety measures.