Discover Michigan’s state capitol: A historical gem in Lansing
Michigan’s iconic state capitol building in Lansing stands as a celebrated symbol of state government, architectural innovation, and historical significance.
Two Michigan government buildings ranked as some of the ugliest in the nation, with Flint’s municipal center — a National Register of Historic places nominee — topping the list of ugly buildings.
The recent public buildings survey by the Robert Dekanski Team, a New Jersey-based RE/MAX real estate team, ranked the City of Flint Municipal Center No. 1 and the Saginaw County Courthouse No. 17.
Michigan was the only state to have two public buildings included in the top 20 of the 100 ugliest public buildings nationwide.
“Not every government building gets the same level of affection as a courthouse with columns or a historic city hall,” the survey said. “In fact, when over 3,000 people were asked to weigh in on the country’s ugliest public buildings, the results painted a fascinating — and often concrete-colored — picture of civic architecture across the U.S.”
Here’s what to know about Michigan’s ugliest public buildings, per the survey.
City of Flint Municipal Center tops No. 1 ugliest public building
The poll found the City of Flint Municipal Center No. 1 among the 100 ugliest public buildings in the U.S.
“This municipal hub is all about business, with a straightforward layout and an exterior that leans heavily into concrete and brick. It gets high marks for durability, but stylistically, it’s stuck in an era where civic buildings weren’t expected to be welcoming — just solid,” the survey said.
The City of Flint Municipal Center is located in downtown Flint, Michigan. The complex features seven city buildings and is in the process of being added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Genesee County Historical Society.
The design contract was awarded to H.E. Beyster and Associates, of Detroit, the history group said. H.E. Beyster developed a plan for a series of six “ultra-modern” buildings. Construction of the complex began in 1955, and in 1960, the seventh building was designed. A. Charles Jones and Associates designed the seventh building, which was the Flint Fire Department headquarters.
“This beautiful, architectural complex is meant to be appreciated. Next time you pass by the Municipal Complex, take a closer look and know that you are looking at some of Flint’s fine history,” the history group says on its website.
What were the top 10 ugliest public buildings?
Here are the top 10 ugliest public buildings in the U.S., per the survey:
- City of Flint Municipal Center: Flint, Michigan
- Fresno County Superior Court: Fresno, California
- Buffalo City Court: Buffalo, New York
- Jackson County Courts Building: Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Philadelphia Municipal Services Building: Philadelphia
- Akron Municipal Court: Akron, Ohio
- Atlantic City Municipal Court: Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Bentonville Public Works Maintenance Facility: Bentonville, Arkansas
- Tuscaloosa County Public Works Building: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- El Paso County Court Administration Building: El Paso, Texas
Saginaw County Courthouse ranked No. 17 ugliest building
The survey ranked the Saginaw County Courthouse as No. 17 among the 100 ugliest public buildings in the U.S. The survey did not offer comments about buildings outside the top 5.
The Saginaw County Courthouse is located at 111 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Michigan. The building houses the Saginaw County Circuit Court.
According to American Courthouses, the building is a four-story concrete and glass structure on landscaped grounds in the center of Saginaw. The first story has recessed walls with a walkway. The roof line is flat. The old clock from the 1884 courthouse was placed in a tower in front of the building.
The courthouse was constructed in 1971-72 at a cost of $11 million, the website said.
How was the ranking compiled?
The Robert Dekanski RE/MAX real estate team conducted an online panel survey of 3,003 respondents based on age, gender and geography, getting population data sets from internal data sources, per the ranking.
The team used a two-step process of stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting to ensure the sample was representative, the website says.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.