---
title: Why New York’s Skyline Has a Distinct Look — HIGH T3CH
url: https://hight3ch.com/why-new-yorks-skyline-has-a-distinct-look/
date: 2018-10-04
---

# Why New York’s Skyline Has a Distinct Look

Why do so many of New York’s older skyscrapers have a similar design?
The answer can be traced back to a monumental 1916 zoning law, which established “setback” requirements for buildings above a certain height. In the heart of the Financial District, the Equitable Building, a historic skyscraper that predates the law, remains a symbol of the excesses of the pre-zoning era.