The Midtown Manhattan high rise that became dangerously unstable last month had more columns missing reinforcements than previously known, according to documents obtained by The New York Times and reviewed by independent engineers. The city temporarily shut down the area around the former Pfizer headquarters on East 42nd Street after two columns buckled on the 21st floor during conversion to apartments.

A review of public records from the New York City Department of Buildings shows steel plates were missing or inadequate on eight additional columns meant to support added floors above. The documents describe the issue as "missing/partial length" plates, which could include missing or shorter stiffener plates needed for structural continuity. Repair work to those columns, scattered on the 33rd, 34th, and 35th floors, has been completed per the drawings.

Daniel Linzell, a structural engineer and dean at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said the notation was clear: "It is implying that either the entire plate was missing or the plate is not as long as was intended." He added, "It appears that whoever's eyes were supposed to be confirming that the columns' strengthening was completed were not." Linzell called it "a lack of oversight."

The Buildings Department declined to address questions directly. Spokesman Andrew Rudansky stated, "This administration is committed to the safety and well-being of our fellow New Yorkers. Following the structural failure in July, D.O.B. engineers immediately launched a comprehensive investigation." The probe, conducted with law enforcement, is ongoing. Construction remains halted by a stop work order. The new drawings were signed by engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, which declined to comment. Joe Di Pompeo, former president of the Structural Engineering Institute, said, "You don't need to be an engineer" to understand the notation.