A high-rise in Manhattan decided to take a literal architectural stance on Tuesday, with two structural columns buckling and prompting the evacuation of nearby buildings. The former Pfizer pharmaceutical building, currently being converted into residential rentals, also had problematic floors, according to fire department officials.

Officials received reports of a “structural issue at an active construction site” on East 42nd Street before 8am. Upon arrival, they discovered the 21st floor had “two structural columns buckled, and there were multiple cracks and sagging floors,” the fire department posted on X, along with a photo of a dramatically bent beam.

“It’s a very serious situation because the box beams - the steel beams - have started to bend and deflect from the weight,” said Fire Department Chief John Esposito. The building and surrounding structures were evacuated, and drones were deployed to provide “technical information and visuals” while officials continued assessing the situation.

Authorities said efforts to stabilize the site would extend “into the night,” and the building remains unstable, according to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Esposito clarified that if the building fell, it would be a “localized collapse” rather than a total one, thanks to its steel construction.

A six-person team examining the building floor-by-floor has not detected any further movement, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg told CNN. Workers nearby face an uncertain timeline for returning, with estimates ranging from several days to two weeks.

MetroLoft, one of the two companies overseeing the construction, thanked city officials for their “quick response” and noted that the affected area is a small section of one of two buildings on the site, with no risk of total collapse.