Framing Analysis
Buckling steel columns and sagging floors were identified Tuesday morning at the 37-story former Pfizer headquarters at 235 E. 42nd Street during its conversion into more than 1,600 apartments. Nine nearby buildings, including a school with about 400 children, were evacuated along with traffic restrictions around Grand Central Terminal; no injuries occurred and temporary supports were installed. Officials described the risk as localized after monitoring showed stabilization.