Jason Barr is a professor of economics at Rutgers University Newark and one of the world's foremost experts on the economics of skyscrapers. His new book, out May 14, 2024, is Cities in the Sky: The Quest to Build the World’s Tallest Skyscrapers. In it, Barr takes a global view of why the quest to build up is as fierce as ever, and why skyscrapers remain so controversial. Join the Unfrozen interview with Barr, in which some record-breaking myths get busted.


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Intro/Outro: “Altitude Blues,” by Ladytron


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Discussed:


Mythbusting the Home Insurance Building


First Skyscrapers | Skyscraper Firsts Forum


LeRoy Buffington’s skyscraper patent


Mythbusting The Skyscraper Index


The Line


Jeddah Tower


Joel Garreau’s Edge City


Emaar’s real estate play at Burj Khalifa: Downtown Dubai


Legends Tower, Oklahoma City


Empire State Building


China’s “build it” economy


Zero Gravity Living


Nashville and Oracle


Detroit and Dan Gilbert


Newark renaissance


Center City District (Philadelphia) study: Downtowns
Rebound


Karen Seto
(Yale)'s studies on tall building height canopies