NYC Midtown Buildings Evacuated After Construction Workers Discover Buckling Columns A high-rise construction site in Midtown Manhattan was evacuated after workers discovered buckling columns, prompting officials to warn of a potential collapse. The incident occurred at 235 E. 42nd St., a 1970s-era office building being converted into luxury apartments, located near the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal. Construction workers first noticed cracks inside the structure around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and observed structural support columns beginning to buckle on the 21st and 22nd floors. The FDNY confirmed the workers self-evacuated, leading to the caving of floors 21 to 26 in the 37-story building. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the situation as "extremely serious," emphasizing the building's instability. Structural engineers and a team of six officials entered the building to assess the damage, using elevators to reach the 17th floor and then walking floor by floor, with the latest check reaching the 31st floor by 4:30 p.m. Despite initial movement in the columns, officials reported no further shifts by that time. Fire Department Chief John Esposito noted the steel columns had begun to "bend and deflect," though he clarified the collapse would likely be localized rather than total. The evacuation extended to multiple nearby buildings, including 210 East 43rd Street, 212 East 43rd Street, and others in the area. A nearby school, the Kennedy International School, which housed 400 children in a summer camp, was also evacuated. The Israeli Consulate at 800 Second Avenue was evacuated as a precaution. Streets between First and Third avenues, from 40th to 45th Streets, were closed to both pedestrians and vehicles, creating a "frozen zone" for safety.#mayor_zohran_mamdani #nyc_midtown #chrysler_building #grand_central_terminal #fire_department_chief_john_esposito
