What HAPPENED at New York's 235 East 42nd Street?

What caused columns to buckle at New York's 235 East 42nd Street? Formerly the headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, the building had been undergoing renovation work to convert it from office space to more than 1,600 high-end apartments — including the addition of new floors. Fire crews were called to reports of falling masonry at the site on Tuesday morning local time and a 'frozen-zone' was established from 40th to 45th Streets and from First to Third Avenues, which saw the area closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic and buildings evacuated. The building renovation project, designed by Gensler for Metro Loft and David Werner Real Estate, had been due to complete in 2027. It's understood that the general contractor is 235 GC LLC with GACE as structural engineers.