Divisive Architectural Icons in the United States

Some of the world’s most renowned buildings evoke strong reactions. To many, they appear as eyesores; to architects, they represent bold expressions of design thinking, engineering, and urban identity. These projects often reveal a divide between public perception and professional appreciation. This debate is occurring amid a broader change in how the United States approaches architecture and building construction.

Nearly half of the country’s 125 million buildings are over 50 years old, based on data from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Current trends indicate a shift toward working with existing structures. Adaptive reuse is on the rise, with nearly 25,000 apartments crafted from converted buildings in 2024. This marks a 50 percent increase from the previous year, according to RentCafe.

The AIA highlights that reusing buildings can avoid 50 to 75 percent of the carbon emissions linked to new construction. Additionally, it prevents the release of embodied carbon related to materials and transportation. Architects are increasingly focused on renewing older structures. Gordon Gill, the architect behind the world’s tallest building, emphasized to Newsweek the importance of refreshing older buildings to maintain their longevity and relevance.

The Guggenheim, New York City

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum is widely recognized, though opinions about it differ. Its stark contrast with neighboring Fifth Avenue buildings and unconventional shape can be divisive.

Architect Monika Smith, a leader at DLR Group, informed Newsweek that the museum is “controversial and not always appreciated by the public because of its contrast with the surrounding buildings… and its curved walls can challenge curators and artists.” However, Smith praised its radical rethinking of museum design, noting how it reimagined the visitor experience with a continuous journey shaped by circulation and natural light. For her, the Guggenheim stands as both “a memorable experience” and “a sculptural object,” as well as a unique city landmark.

Marin County Civic Center, California

Another Frank Lloyd Wright creation, the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, also generates mixed opinions.

Architect and engineer Charles Bloszies described it as a “well-known and somewhat polarizing” building. While appreciating its distinctive design and public function, he noted others view it differently. He recalled an acquaintance referring to it as the “Martian Embassy.” Despite this, Bloszies emphasized its architectural significance, calling it “quintessential Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School architecture transplanted to the rolling hills of northern California.” He stated that, like the Guggenheim, “it fits its context surprisingly well.”

Boston City Hall, Massachusetts

Miles Smith, an architect and manager at Graphisoft, told Newsweek: “A building I love, though many in the public do not, is Boston City Hall.” He noted efforts to demolish it often meet strong opposition from the design community. Smith described it as “a fantastic brutalist structure with a rich backstory,” even calling it his “favorite building in the world.”

Architect Marc Gordon, a partner at Spacesmith in New York, noted the divide reflects broader attitudes toward brutalism. He mentioned that the style is “generally disliked by the public,” with its exposed concrete perceived as “anti-humanistic.” Architects, however, value its “honest expression of materiality” and its “simplistic monumental geometric form.”

Norfolk Scope Arena, Virginia

The Norfolk Scope Arena is another example of a structure that receives criticism from locals while architects laud it.

Mel Price, co-founder and CEO of Work Program Architects, mentioned to Newsweek that the structure—a concrete dome supported by 24 flying buttresses—is disliked by many in Norfolk. She noted that “a lot of locals don’t like it.” Nevertheless, she sees it as “an iconic landmark” that defines the city’s skyline. She described it as “one of the most striking examples of late-modernist structural expressionism in the United States” and credited Pier Luigi Nervi as a maestro, though locals still negatively view it.”

Thom White, co-founder of Work Program Architects, echoed that praise, calling the building “majestic” and “an icon.” He indicated its engineering significance as “the world’s largest reinforced thin-shell concrete dome,” paralleling its designer to famed architect Santiago Calatrava. White noted its aging infrastructure, stating it “currently lacks the modern amenities fans expect,” but emphasized that updates are possible. Removing it, he commented to Newsweek, would mean losing “a unique landmark” and “a prominent architectural gem” that makes Norfolk’s skyline “instantly recognizable.”

Woodhull Hospital, New York City

In Brooklyn, Woodhull Hospital provides another example of contentious architecture.

Gordon shared with Newsweek that it is “generally reviled by the public,” sometimes perceived as “a dystopian vision of a future modernist architectural typology.” Its Cor-Ten steel façade contributes to what he deemed a “foreboding, almost sinister appearance.”

Yet, Gordon admired its “sheer size and monumentality.” He highlighted its “functional geometric forms,” “machine-like industrial aesthetic,” and “structural expressionism,” portraying the building as a bold, albeit misunderstood, design work.

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