local
New York construction scare highlights the challenges of converting offices into housing
By R.J. Rico, Jessica Hill And Philip Marcelo, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 10, 2026
· 5 min read
When two steel columns buckled this week inside the former Pfizer headquarters in midtown Manhattan, the scare prompted evacuations and halted work on one of the nation’s largest office-to-apartment conversions.It also highlighted the complex engineering behind adaptive reuse projects, which have...
Key takeaway The plans call for turning two office buildings — one built in 1909, the other in the 1960s — into about 1,600 apartments by adding more than a dozen stories atop the older structure and redesigning and expanding the other.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The challenges of converting offices into housing, as seen in the recent New York construction scare, have significant implications for San Antonio 's own efforts to address its housing shortage. As local officials explore ways to repurpose underused office spaces, they must consider the complex engineering and safety concerns that come with such projects. San Antonio's own stock of older buildings, some of which date back to the early 20th century, could potentially be repurposed as housing, but doing so would require careful planning and execution to ensure the structures can safely support new loads and residential living. The city's experience with revitalizing its downtown area and redeveloping historic buildings could provide valuable lessons for tackling these challenges, and local engineers and architects will likely be watching the New York project closely for insights and best practices to apply to San Antonio's own adaptive reuse initiatives.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 10, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? When two steel columns buckled this week inside the former Pfizer headquarters in midtown Manhattan, the scare prompted evacuations and halted work on one of the nation’s largest office-to-apartment conversions.It also highlighted the complex engineering behind adaptive reuse projects, which have...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 10, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by R.J. Rico, Jessica Hill And Philip Marcelo, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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