Midtown Pfizer tower to undergo independent review after structural failure prompts code rethink

New York City's Department of Buildings has ordered a third‑party independent review of the Pfizer building's conversion in Midtown after a structural failure prompted a mass evacuation. The project added 14 floors to a 33‑story, about 667,000‑square‑foot tower, and did not require outside peer review under current thresholds, prompting calls from engineers to lower those thresholds, especially for older buildings. City officials say policy changes could be considered as the investigation continues to determine the cause, which could involve reinforcement issues, contractor error, or inspection gaps; the cost of a peer review is typically modest, around $100,000–$200,000.