Manhattan Project Contractor Error Eyed in Conversion Collapse

Manhattan project contractor error eyed in conversion collapse

A partial building collapse in New York City may more likely be explained by contractor error than from inherent risks in large-scale office-to-residential conversions. An engineer on the former Pfizer headquarters conversion told Gothamist that workers failed to reinforce columns as designed. The columns buckled and prompted evacuations across seven Manhattan Midtown East blocks. The incident raised questions about the viability of office-to-re…

Exclusive: Engineering safer office-to-residential conversions

Adaptive reuse projects must address structural deficiencies. Image courtesy Tessa Bury/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 Adaptive reuse projects are back in the spotlight after two columns buckled at a midtown Manhattan tower. Office-to-residential conversions continue to gain momentum as cities confront housing shortages. These projects deliver housing more quickly and reduce unnecessary carbon emissions. Despite these benefits, converting office b…