In ancient cities, the religious temple was placed in the highest or most central location; in modern cities, skyscrapers occupy that position. what method of analysis allows us to compare symbolic cultural meanings of such physical structures?

The answer is Semiotics.

Semiotics in it's basic form is the study of signs and symbols. In more depth it is an investigation into how meaning is created and how meaning is communicated through symbols and signs. Skyscrapers are a modern cultural symbol of power.