Architects reveal the “polarizing” buildings they love—and why

Some of the world’s most famous buildings provoke strong reactions. To many, they are eyesores; to architects, they are bold expressions of design thinking, engineering, and urban identity. From controversial museums to imposing civic structures, some projects reveal a divide between public perception and professional appreciation.

This debate unfolds alongside a broader shift in how the United States is approaching architecture and the construction of buildings.

Nearly half of the country’s 125 million buildings are more than 50 years old, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and recent trends show a growing focus on working with what already exists. Adaptive reuse has surged, with almost 25,000 apartments created from converted buildings in 2024—a 50 percent increase from the previous year, according to RentCafe.

The AIA notes that reusing buildings can avoid 50 to 75 percent of the carbon emissions linked to new construction, while also preventing the release of embodied carbon tied to materials and transport. Architects are increasingly looking to renew older structures—a priority that Gordon Gill, the architect behind the world’s tallest building, highlighted to Newsweek, emphasizing the importance of focusing on “refreshing” older buildings and maintaining their longevity and relevance.

Here, we look at some buildings in the U.S. that some people loathe, but architects adore.

The Guggenheim, New York City

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum is widely recognized, but is not necessarily universally loved. Its stark contrast with neighbouring Fifth Avenue buildings and its unconventional form can be divisive.

Architect Monika Smith, principal and cultural+performing arts design leader at DLR Group, told Newsweek the museum is “controversial and not always appreciated by the public because of its contrast with the surrounding buildings…and its curved walls, which can be challenging for curators and artists.”

Yet Smith praised its radical rethinking of museum design. She explained that the building “reimagined the visitor experience,” replacing traditional gallery layouts with a continuous journey shaped by circulation and natural light. For her, the Guggenheim is both “a memorable experience” and “a sculptural object,” as well as “a unique landmark within the city.”

Marin County Civic Center, California

Another Frank Lloyd Wright design, the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, also divides opinion.

Architect and engineer Charles Bloszies described it as a “well-known and somewhat polarizing” building. While he appreciates its distinctive design and public function, he acknowledged that others see it very differently—recalling an acquaintance who once dubbed it the “Martian Embassy,” he told Newsweek.

Still, Bloszies emphasized its architectural significance, calling it “quintessential Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School architecture transplanted to the rolling hills of northern California.” He added that, like the Guggenheim, “it fits its context surprisingly well.”

Boston City Hall, Massachusetts

Miles Smith, architect and senior industry growth & strategy manager at Graphisoft, told Newsweek: “A building I love that many people in the public do not is Boston City Hall,” noting that repeated attempts to demolish it are often met with strong opposition from the design community. Smith called it “a fantastic brutalist structure with a rich backstory,” even labeling it his “favorite building in the world.”

Architect Marc Gordon, partner at Spacesmith in New York, told Newsweek that the divide reflects broader attitudes toward brutalism. He noted that the style is “generally disliked by the general public,” with its exposed concrete and stark forms often perceived as “anti-humanistic.” However, architects value what he described as its “honest expression of materiality” and its “simplistic monumental geometric form.”

Norfolk Scope Arena, Virginia

The Norfolk Scope Arena is another example of a building locals often criticize but architects champion.

Mel Price, co-founder and CEO of Work Program Architects, told Newsweek that the structure—a concrete dome supported by 24 flying buttresses—is disliked by many in Norfolk, noting that “a lot of locals don’t like it.”

Yet she sees it as “an iconic landmark” that defines the city skyline. She describes it as “one of the most striking examples of late-modernist structural expressionism in the United States” and a masterpiece by Pier Luigi Nervi, but “that doesn’t stop locals from hating on it.”

Thom White, co-founder of Work Program Architects, echoed that admiration, calling the building “majestic” and “an icon.” He pointed to its engineering significance as “the world’s largest reinforced thin-shell concrete dome,” comparing its designer to the famed architect Santiago Calatrava.

White acknowledged its ageing infrastructure, noting it “currently lacks the modern amenities fans expect,” but argued that updates are possible. Demolishing it, White told 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 offers yet another example of contested architecture.

Gordon told Newsweek it is “generally reviled by the public,” with its appearance sometimes seen as “a dystopian vision of a future modernist architectural typology.” Its Cor-Ten steel (weathering steel) façade contributes to what he described as a “foreboding, almost sinister appearance.”

Despite this, Gordon said he admires its “sheer size and monumentality.” He also highlighted its “functional geometric forms,” “machine-like industrial aesthetic,” and “structural expressionism,” framing the building as a bold, if misunderstood, work of design.

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