Ohio has 2 of the ugliest buildings in the US, new ranking shows. Here’s where
Ohio has received another dubious distinction by landing on a list for “100 Ugliest Public Buildings in the US ...” twice.
The Akron Municipal Court building ranked 6th and the Montgomery County Administration building ranked 13th on the list of “100 most unattractive public buildings across the country” as voted by 3,012 Americans.
The results, dominated by courthouses and buildings, are often colored by how residents feel about the function of the and upkeep of the space. The New Jersey Real Estate Network published the study and chalks it up to “brutalist and utilitarian styles” that informed the mid-to-late 20th aesthetics.
Akron Municipal Court Building
The Akron Municipal Court was first established legislatively in 1919 with three judges, evolving in judge numbers over the decades (five judges in 1930, reduced to four in 1939, back to six by 1975) and was renamed the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center in 1991, according to records from the Akron Municipal Court.
After decades of use, the facility fell into disrepair and residents began calling attention to its deterioration, leading to the unveiling of the new location at the Ocasek Building in downtown Akron in 2023. The new building has modern courtrooms and offices, but this wasn’t enough, apparently, to keep it off the list.
Montgomery County Administration Building
Based on accounts from the Montgomery County History, the building was constructed during the period from 1970 to 1972. It was part of the Center City West Urban Renewal area, a major downtown revitalization effort in Dayton at the time, It was designed by the renowned architect Edward Durell Stone along with Brown and Head Associates and is an example of the Modern International architectural style
Although it was considered state-of-the-art when it was built, its concrete facade and brutalist features seem to have landed it on this list. The building’s limestone facade and somewhat stark design, common in modernist government buildings, could sometimes be criticized as cold or uninviting.
Why “ugly” matters
These buildings, like many on the list, is “democratic” in its notoriety and not a tourist attraction or architectural darling, but a practical site folks encounter every week.
However, how people feel about their government buildings carry deeper political, cultural and social significance beyond mere function. Buildings like government centers serve as symbols of community values, identity and governmental transparency or openness.
According to Politics Today, research shows many Americans prefer traditional, classical architecture because these styles evoke a sense of history, stability, and justice.
In contrast, modernist or Brutalist government structures, like the Akron and Dayton buildings, can appear stark or harsh and are often perceived as cold or sterile.
Which cities have the ugliest buildings?
Over 3,000 people were asked to weigh in on the debate over civic architecture.
Here are the results:
#1 City of Flint Municipal Center - Flint Michigan
#2 Fresno County Superior Court - Fresno, California
#3 Buffalo City Court - Buffalo, New York
#4 Jackson County Courts Building - Pascagoula, Mississippi
#5 Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Do you agree with this survey? Was the old government center ugly? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.