NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The New Jersey Real Estate Network surveyed 3,012 people to find the top 100 ugliest public buildings in the United States.
The results are in, and Tennessee has two public buildings that cracked the top 100.
Voters tabbed the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum at No. 46 on the list.
The building opened in 1961 and plays a major role in Knoxville’s entertainment scene, hosting musicals, theatrical productions, sporting events, circuses, concerts and more events.
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The coliseum can seat 6,400 people, and the civic auditorium can seat over 2,500.
“This multipurpose venue has hosted decades of events, but its design leans heavily on mid-century mass,” officials with the New Jersey Real Estate Network said. “The large, blocky exterior and concrete finishes reflect its era – practical and spacious, but not especially inviting. It’s built for crowds, not curb appeal.”
Nine city-owned civic centers made this list, but Knoxville’s was ranked the highest, meaning it was voted the ugliest of the bunch.
Just barely making it onto the list was the Nashville Metro Courthouse, which ranked as the No. 100 ugliest public building in the country.
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The Nashville Metro Courthouse was built in 1936 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1936. It sees cases for Davidson County, serves as Nashville’s City Hall and holds offices for the mayor and city council.
“The Metro Courthouse is grand in scale, with a strong, symmetrical facade that speaks to civic authority,” the New Jersey Real Estate Network said. “While the stone exterior and clean lines give it a classic feel, the overall look can come across as a bit stern. It’s stately, but not particularly warm.”
Several entries — including over half of the top 30 entries — were courthouses or judicial centers. So although the Nashville Metro Courthouse made the list, it’s not considered the ugliest of the group.
Kentucky is featured once on the list, with Owensboro City Hall coming at No. 44.
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Alabama had five buildings listed, making it the state with the most entries.
Here are the top 10 ugliest public buildings, according to the survey:
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City of Flint Municipal Center (Flint, Michigan)
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Fresno County Superior Court (Fresno, California)
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Buffalo City Court (Buffalo, New York)
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Jackson County Courts Building (Pascagoula, Mississippi)
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Philadelphia Municipal Services Building (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
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Akron Municipal Court (Akron, Ohio)
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Atlantic City Municipal Court (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
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Bentonville Public Works Maintenance Facility (Bentonville, Arkansas)
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Tuscaloosa County Public Works Building (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
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El Paso County Court Administration Building (El Paso, Texas)
For the full list of the top 100 ugliest public buildings in the U.S., click here.
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