The theory that a profile of Manhattan's skyscrapers resembles a mirror bar graph corresponding to the depth of the bedrock beneath them is so intuitively grasped that it is readily accepted. It explains why there are two clusters of skyscraper construction in the city?one downtown and the other in midtown, separated by the softer geologic grounds of the Villages, Soho, Tribeca, and Chelsea. The theory was set forth and popularized by Christopher J. Schuberth, who published The Geology of New York City and Environs in 1968. According to the Observer, a recent study by Jason Barr of Rutgers University undermines Schuberth's bedrock thesis and posits that skyscraper locations are based more on economics, demographics, and sociology than the physical constraints of geology. At most, variations in bedrock depth would only add 7% to the cost of a building, which is insignificant given the variations in the cost of Manhattan real estate.
· Uncanny Valley: The Real Reason There Are No Skyscrapers in the Middle of Manhattan [NYO]
· Skyscraper coverage [Curbed NY]
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