Why New York's Skyscrapers Keep Changing Shape

You just can't beat B1M writing and production quality. Amazing video as always!

I love this view of architectural design through the decades. Please do make more, this is fascinating.

I never really appreciated the Chrysler Building due to the fact I worked mostly Downtown and the Westside. Then I had an interview over on 42nd & Park. I had time to kill and wandered towards the CB. It is so impressive from the outside, but the lobby is absolutely incredible. A true Art Deco beauty and a marvelous structure. It’s a miracle that it survived pretty much intact in a city that’s constantly changing.

FunFact: The reason why Manhattan is able to support such tall buildings is because of the breakup of Pangaea. You see, where Manhattan is now, there was once a rift-valley. And with continental rifting comes magma upwelling. The cliffs of the Palisades, on the west side of the Hudson, are the cooled, crystalized remains of an ancient magma chamber. Likewise, Manhattan Island is underlaid by ancient basalt. And not all that far below the surface, either. [Thank you, Laurentide Ice Sheet!] That's a very, very stable base to anchor the supports of a skyscraper into, and you can go quite deep without ever hitting the end of that volcanic rock. The last thing that helps NYC with such tall skyscrapers is that (1) It's on a passive continental margin that hasn't been geologically-active in a good 100 million years; (2) It's on the coast, away from the tornado-forming-interior of North America; (3) It's far enough north that getting hit by hurricanes is [well, was] a fairly rare occurrence.

Both the Chrysler and Empire State buildings made me fall in love with skyscrapers as a young boy. I was amazed by their outstanding appearance and their defiance over the New York City skyline. I’m not sure how I as a young boy would react to the Twin Towers had 9/11 never happened (I was born in 1998), if anything I would’ve at first thought they looked pretty weird because of their appearance, but as time would go on, I would fall in love with them, and they would be my favorite part of the city, along with Grand Central and Times Square. The Chrysler building is still one of my favorite skyscrapers, mostly because of its history and its awesome appearance, but I will be a bit sad to see it literally overshadowed by taller buildings, if anything it almost reminds me of that book I read as a kid called “The Little Skyscraper”.

As a New Yorker, I’d love to hear about your predictions for development in areas of Queens and Brooklyn. I imagine that zoning laws will change giving way to more skyscrapers.

As a young Englishman when i moved to NYC in '98, I lived in the shadow of the WTC Twin Towers, and walked through there every day. I left NYC in '06 and returned last year. That area holds a lot of memories for me, and I'm still emotional watching this video. I think this is one of the most informative, and sympathetic explanations of the WTC I've seen, succinct but comprehensive, and not just a rehashing of the myriad stories already out there. The rest of the video of course is up to your normal excellent standards, if not exceeding them. great video, great channel!

I went to New York for the first time just a few weeks ago, the Chrysler Building is undoubtedly the most beautiful building I've ever seen.

2030 might be the triplet towers

If you ever get the chance to visit NYC, don't just look at the Chrysler Building from the outside, be brave and go into the reception area. It's stunning and makes you wonder what the rest of the building is like.

When you watch a video like this, slick, professional, and very informative, it comes as no surprise that television is losing its grip. A fascinating topic, well presented.

To me, as a NewYorker, the city is like a person a character a personality that grows and changes as it goes thru time. It indulges fads, trends, priorities and also painful times. Every scar, crack, pothole and yes building has a story attached.

I worked in the World Trade Center North in the late 90s (fortunately before 911). It was a pain in the butt to work in usually being on the 80th floor. It could take you 10 minutes many times to just get to your office once you entered the building. Our office was already highly outdated and the small windows didn't help.

I'm surprised that people used to think the Chrysler building ugly; I've always thought it beautiful. I loved to see it on my approach home; it was always comforting, somehow. It's a symbol of old NYC when working class people like me were allowed to live here.

A huge thing about Midtown East in the next few years is the fact that the East Side Access is being added to Grand Central, which will make it much easier for millions to access that area from Long Island. Edit for context: I think you may have covered this massive project in the past. In the past, millions of people per day were forced to go to Penn Station to go to Midtown East, adding at least 20-30 min to each commute. With Midtown East’s expansion, I also think it deserves a better name. Someone help me with this part 😅

Spent 37 years of my life as a rigger on megaprojects in Australia and this hands down is my favourite channel on YouTube. And it just keeps getting better! Great work as always B1M

For someone who never seen a building taller than 2 floors... This is absolutely fantastic! Thanks!

The quality of these mini-documentaries is astonishing. Great work B1M team!

I always wanted to visit New York City and you practically took me on a tour. The fact a city can be known just by its skyscrapers is great!!! Thanks B1M. Keep up the good work.

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