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🇰🇷 South Korea /Energy & Infrastructure

Manhattan building stabilized after construction raises collapse fears

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A high-rise building in Manhattan, New York, was temporarily stabilized after construction work raised concerns about its structural integrity.
  • Emergency measures included installing hydraulic jacks and welding new steel supports to a bent 21st-floor column.
  • The incident occurred during a renovation project to add 19 floors to a 10-story building, raising safety concerns about New York City's policy to convert old office buildings into apartments.

An emergency stabilization effort has averted the immediate collapse of a Manhattan high-rise building that was deemed at risk due to ongoing construction. New York City officials worked through the night to reinforce a bent 21st-floor column, a critical support structure that had shown signs of distress.

Emergency measures involved installing temporary hydraulic jacks to prop up the compromised column and welding additional steel supports around it. Over 100 temporary braces were deployed to secure the building. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the building has shown no further movement since the temporary supports were put in place.

The building, formerly the Pfizer headquarters, was undergoing a major renovation. The project aimed to add 19 floors to the existing 10-story structure and connect it to an adjacent 33-story building to create a large apartment complex. The crisis began on Friday morning when a safety manager reported that steel support columns inside the building were bending and floors were twisting.

There has been no additional movement in the building since the installation of the temporary supports.

— Eric AdamsNew York City Mayor, providing an update on the building's stability after emergency reinforcement.

Following the report, the New York City Fire Department confirmed the structural anomalies and issued evacuation orders for nine nearby buildings, closing off surrounding streets. While evacuation orders for some buildings have since been lifted, four adjacent buildings remain under evacuation orders, according to CNN.

Nathan Berman, head of construction firm Metro Loft, attributed the issue to the added weight from the new floors and structural additions. The incident has sparked renewed safety concerns regarding New York City's broader policy to convert aging office buildings into much-needed housing. Mayor Adams, however, indicated that the city remains committed to this policy, emphasizing the need for safe and responsible execution of such projects.

The added weight from adding floors and expanding the structure caused this.

— Nathan BermanHead of construction firm Metro Loft, explaining the cause of the structural issues.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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