Police identified the man Friday as Bruno Travalja, 52, of Ridgewood, who owned an architecture firm in Hackensack.
NEW YORK CITY -- A New Jersey man fell 47 floors to his death Thursday from a Midtown Manhattan high-rise, authorities said.
Bruno Travalja Police identified the man Friday as Bruno Travalja, 52, of Ridgewood. Travalja was the owner of Crowne Architectural Systems, according to his Facebook page. A messaging service that answered calls at the Hackensack company said the business was closed until Monday.
Police first reported that Travalja fell from an office building on 6th Avenue between West 52nd and West 53rd streets.
However, the city Department of Buildings said later that Travalja was working on the roof, which was protected by an 18-inch safety barrier, at 135 West 52nd Street when he fell at about 2:15 p.m.
Travalja had knelt down Thursday afternoon to take measurements near the ledge of the 47th-floor luxury condominium development, according to Alexander Schnell, a spokesman for the city DOB.
When Travalja stood up, he lost his footing and fell. Travalja was wearing a safety harness but it was not tied off, Schnell said.
A preliminary police report said Travalja may have gotten dizzy after standing up, causing him to fall.
New York City Police and the city's Department of Buildings are investigating the incident.
According to property records, Travalja and his wife own a large house on Arrow Lane in Ridgewood, near the border of Saddle River. The couple bought the home 16 years ago.
His wife, Alexis Travalja, is listed on her LinkedIn page as the vice president of Crowne Architectural Systems.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.