Flint City Center Tops America's Ugliest Public Buildings List
Survey of more than 3,000 residents across 48 states highlights mid- to late-20th-century civic architecture and perceptions of public spaces.
Flint, Michigan's City of Flint Municipal Center has been named America's ugliest public building in a ranking released Sept. 25, 2025, by The Robert Dekanski Team at real estate company Re/Max 1st Advantage. The list aims to capture residents' perceptions of civic architecture across the United States and the ways mid- to late-20th-century design remains controversial today.
The online survey drew responses from more than 3,000 people across 48 states and ranked 100 public buildings. New Hampshire and Rhode Island had no entries. The results showed a concentration of mid- to late-20th-century designs, many built in brutalist or utilitarian styles intended to convey authority and efficiency but often read today as cold or fortress-like.
The top spot went to the City of Flint Municipal Center in Flint, Michigan, followed by Fresno County Superior Court in Fresno, California, and Buffalo City Court in Buffalo, New York. The list also includes Jackson County Courts Building in Pascagoula, Mississippi; Philadelphia Municipal Services Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Akron Municipal Court in Akron, Ohio; Atlantic City Municipal Court in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Bentonville Public Works Maintenance Facility in Bentonville, Arkansas; Tuscaloosa County Public Works Building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and El Paso County Court Administration Building in El Paso, Texas.
Alabama had the most entries on the list, with five total. The state was followed by New York, which appeared three times, and California, with two entries. The spread reflects how a broad swath of public architecture from the mid-20th century remains in everyday use, from courthouses and municipal services buildings to maintenance facilities.
The Flint municipal center is notable not only for its appearance but for the city’s ongoing challenges. Flint has endured the lingering effects of a toxic water crisis that began in 2014, triggering a public health emergency and culminating in a $626 million settlement with the state of Michigan in 2021. Residents have continued to grapple with health issues tied to lead exposure, underscoring the broader human dimensions that often accompany debates about civic design.
These are not tourist sites or architectural darlings, the survey authors noted. They are workhorses — spaces where people pay a bill, contest a fine, or renew a license. Yet the authors say design still matters to residents, shaping how people experience daily civic life and how a city communicates its values through structure and material.
The Top 10 Ugliest Public Buildings In America are: 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; 6) Akron Municipal Court, Akron, Ohio; 7) Atlantic City Municipal Court, Atlantic City, New Jersey; 8) Bentonville Public Works Maintenance Facility, Bentonville, Arkansas; 9) Tuscaloosa County Public Works Building, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 10) El Paso County Court Administration Building, El Paso, Texas.