Five surrounding buildings near 235 E. 42nd St. remain evacuated, and East 43rd Street remains closed out of an abundance of caution as engineers and emergency crews continue reinforcing the building.
Crews are expected to install additional thick steel columns and beams Friday as another layer of temporary support for the structure, which partially buckled Tuesday.
The New York City Department of Buildings says emergency shoring has already been installed from the ninth floor to the roof to stabilize the building while repairs continue.
The incident unfolded Tuesday after workers noticed bent steel beams and sagging floors inside the building under construction, prompting an immediate evacuation and the evacuation of several nearby buildings as a precaution.
Although officials now say the building is considered stable, the city has launched an investigation into developer MetroLoft and Domani Inspection Services, the privately hired inspection firm overseeing the project.
The investigation has also renewed questions about the construction industry's reliance on private inspection agencies to monitor building safety.
One worker who had been on the project for about a year described the moment he realized something was wrong.
"I noticed some cracks on the floor. Nothing to raise super suspicion, but I walked down on the 21st floor where I met the general contractors and everyone huddled up," the worker said. "We found the beam. We took pictures. I sent them to my foreman. From there we decided it was time to evacuate the building."
City officials say the building remains stable as emergency work continues. Most surrounding streets have reopened, but East 43rd Street, behind the building where the damaged columns are located, will remain closed until engineers determine it is safe to reopen the area.
ALSO READ: Crews working around the clock to reinforce Manhattan high-rise that buckled
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