A 17-story office tower located at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan was evacuated on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, due to concerns about a weakened and collapsing wall in its basement. The building houses the UJA-Federation of New York and other tenants.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) indicated that an empty lot adjacent to the building had recently accumulated rainwater, which saturated the soil. This saturated soil is believed to be pushing against a non-load-bearing wall in the building's basement, causing it to crack and collapse. Despite the evacuation, the FDNY spokesman Jim Long stated that the building itself is structurally sound and not in danger of collapse, with load-bearing supports remaining intact.
Approximately 300 employees were safely evacuated. The building was closed through Thursday as a result of the incident, with the UJA-Federation of New York communicating to staff that the issue was due to the vacant lot next door and would necessitate rerouting water lines.
The compromised wall was determined by authorities to be non-structural and non-load-bearing. The UJA-Federation of New York, known as the world's largest local philanthropy, reassured its employees that there were no concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building.
Authorities, including the FDNY and the city’s Department of Buildings, inspected the site after the UJA-Federation contacted them regarding the issue. The swift action ensured the safety of the building occupants as remedial measures were planned.
