A national online survey of more than 3,000 people produced a ranked list of the nation's 100 ugliest structures. Three New York-area civic buildings appear on the list. Buffalo's Frank A. Sedita City Court Building placed No. 3; the 10-story Brutalist courthouse was built between 1971 and 1974, designed by Pfohl, Roberts and Biggie, and features a looming concrete façade, narrow vertical windows and a fortress-like presence. Rochester's Monroe County Hall of Justice placed No. 18; it is boxy, functional, squat and austere. The Westchester County Office Building in White Plains placed No. 40 and is a midcentury block with rigid lines and an uninspired façade.
The 10-story Brutalist courthouse, built between 1971 and 1974, was designed by local firm Pfohl, Roberts and Biggie and stands across from Buffalo City Hall on Niagara Square. Its looming concrete façade, narrow vertical windows and fortress-like presence were meant to minimize distractions for judges and jurors, but the result looks more like a Cold War bunker than a civic centerpiece.
Downstate, Rochester's Monroe County Hall of Justice claimed the No. 18 slot. Functionality is the name of the game here, with a boxy form and a design that prizes efficiency over charm. It houses county courts, but its squat massing and austere exterior don't exactly scream "justice for all." For many locals, it blends so seamlessly into the background that it's almost aggressively forgettable.
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to America's least-loved buildings, there seems to be a consensus. A new national survey of more than 3,000 people has ranked the top 100 ugliest structures in the country and three New York buildings managed to snag spots on the list. Spoiler: None of them are winning any design awards anytime soon.
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