1. Boston City Hall – Boston, Massachusetts
This Brutalist structure from the 1960s is often compared to a Soviet bunker. It’s heavy on concrete, with jagged, cold features that seem designed to suck the joy out of downtown Boston. Visitors might think it’s some kind of dystopian fortress instead of a center for civic engagement.
2. Trump Tower – New York City, New York
This isn’t about politics; it’s purely about aesthetics. The shiny black glass and gold accents are like a relic of the 1980s that no one asked to keep around. It looms over Fifth Avenue like a giant, overpriced cologne bottle that’s trying way too hard to impress.
3. Denver International Airport – Denver, Colorado
There are conspiracy theories about this place, but let’s just talk about the architecture: the tent-like roof was meant to evoke the Rockies, but instead, it looks like a circus came to town and never left. The sprawling, chaotic layout inside doesn’t help its reputation.
4. FBI Headquarters (J. Edgar Hoover Building) – Washington, D.C.
This drab, boxy building on Pennsylvania Avenue is all hard lines and soulless concrete. It’s supposed to exude authority, but instead, it looks like it was designed to star in a dystopian sci-fi flick. And let’s be honest — it’s pretty depressing for something just a stone’s throw from the Capitol.
5. The Longaberger Basket Building – Newark, Ohio
Whoever thought, “Let’s make a building that looks like a giant picnic basket!” was probably having too much fun at work. The former headquarters of Longaberger, this seven-story monstrosity is kitschy in the worst possible way. It’s now abandoned, proving that not all quirky ideas pay off.
6. AT&T Building (Batman Building) – Nashville, Tennessee
Look, we love Batman, but this skyscraper’s attempt to mimic the Caped Crusader’s ears is more goofy than heroic. The mismatched design elements make it look like someone cobbled together a Lego set after losing the instruction manual.
7. Watergate Complex – Washington, D.C.
Sure, it’s infamous for its role in political history, but have you ever actually looked at it? It’s like someone smushed together a bunch of beige Jenga blocks and called it a day. The weird, curved facade gives it the aesthetic appeal of a beige seashell.
8. Experience Music Project (MoPOP) – Seattle, Washington
Frank Gehry’s designs can be divisive, but this one looks like a melted pile of colorful tin foil. Its twisting, curving facade is supposed to represent the fluidity of music, but it’s more reminiscent of a crumpled soda can. Gehry himself even called it “ugly,” so there’s that.
9. The Tropicana – Atlantic City, New Jersey
The Tropicana is all about tacky, neon excess — but in the least charming way possible. It’s a hodgepodge of faux-Mediterranean columns, garish lights, and over-the-top signage. It’s more sensory overload than architectural wonder, and that’s saying something for Atlantic City.
10. The Beehive House – Salt Lake City, Utah
The Beehive House was once home to Brigham Young, but its odd design makes it look like a dollhouse that grew up too fast. The faux-Gothic details and strange roofline just don’t fit together. It’s a quirky mess that leaves visitors scratching their heads.
11. The United States Penitentiary – Leavenworth, Kansas
A prison isn’t supposed to be glamorous, but this one feels like it was designed to be soul-crushing on purpose. Its heavy, fortress-like facade and ominous, imposing walls make it look more like a medieval dungeon than a modern correctional facility.
12. The Ziggurat Building – West Sacramento, California
Inspired by ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats, this 10-story pyramid-shaped building is an awkward fit for its riverside setting. The terraced design doesn’t exactly scream “corporate headquarters” — more like an out-of-place sandcastle.
13. The Amway Grand Plaza Tower – Grand Rapids, Michigan
With its mismatched architectural styles — from old-school elegance to bland modernity — this tower feels like two separate buildings were glued together. The end result is a visual eyesore that’s hard to take seriously.
14. Boston University’s School of Law Tower – Boston, Massachusetts
This brutal concrete slab has the visual appeal of a parking garage. Its vertical, windowless design gives off major “prison vibes,” making it a pretty bleak place to study law. Students joke it’s the least inspiring place to learn about justice.
15. The Verizon Building – New York City, New York
Post-9/11 renovations turned this structure into one of Manhattan’s most disliked buildings. The gray, windowless exterior is so soul-sapping, it makes you want to look the other way. The only redeeming feature? It’s easy to forget once it’s out of sight.
