This Maine public building was named one of the ‘ugliest’ the U.S.: Can you guess which?

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Maine is home to many beautiful and historic buildings, from Stephen King's gothic house in Bangor to the castle-like Ogunquit Memorial Library.

But not every building can be a winner.

According to a July survey from the New Jersey Real Estate Network, Maine is also home to one of the nation's top 100 "ugliest" public buildings.

Not all buildings can be as pretty as the Ogunquit Memorial Library, a model of which sits in the library on Friday, October. 8, 2021.
Not all buildings can be as pretty as the Ogunquit Memorial Library, a model of which sits in the library on Friday, October. 8, 2021.

"These aren't tourist sites or architectural darlings – they're everyday buildings people interact with when paying a bill, contesting a fine, or renewing a license," read a blog post from the network. "They're workhorses, not showpieces. But as this survey makes clear, design still matters to residents."

To determine the ugliest public buildings in the U.S., the real estate network conducted an online panel survey of 3,003 respondents based on age, gender and geographic location.

The Bangor Cross Insurance Center is one of the buildings that made the list.

BANGOR, ME - NOVEMBER 03: Voters enter the Cross Insurance Center polling location during the last few hours of the election on November 3, 2020 in Bangor, Maine. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
BANGOR, ME - NOVEMBER 03: Voters enter the Cross Insurance Center polling location during the last few hours of the election on November 3, 2020 in Bangor, Maine. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Survey ranks Bangor building as one of the nation's ugliest public buildings

The survey ranked the Bangor Cross Insurance Center as the 71st ugliest public building in the U.S.

The center is a multipurpose arena that can hold up to 8,500 people for concerts. It has an attached 2,000-person convention center.

It opened in September of 2013, and since then has hosted stars like Sir Elton John, Luke Combs and Cirque de Soleil.

BANGOR, ME - NOVEMBER 03: Voters fill out and cast their ballots at the Cross Insurance Center polling location where the entire city votes on November 3, 2020 in Bangor, Maine. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
BANGOR, ME - NOVEMBER 03: Voters fill out and cast their ballots at the Cross Insurance Center polling location where the entire city votes on November 3, 2020 in Bangor, Maine. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Courthouses dominate list of ugly buildings

The survey revealed that more than half of the top 30 entries on the list of the country's ugliest public buildings were courthouses or judicial centers.

Many of the structures were built during the mid-to-late 20th century, a period dominated by brutalist and utilitarian architectural styles.

"While they were designed to convey authority and efficiency, today they often come off as cold and fortress-like," said the network.

Although the survey focused primarily on visual appeal, it also highlighted how public sentiment toward a building’s appearance often overlaps with perceptions of its functionality and upkeep.

A "drab building" may be tolerated if it delivers reliable service, but when it’s also deteriorating and difficult to navigate, dissatisfaction tends to rise, said the network.

What are the top 10 ugliest public buildings in the U.S.?

Here are the top 10 ugliest public buildings, according to the survey:

  1. El Paso County Court Administration Building (El Paso, Texas)

  2. City of Flint Municipal Center (Flint, Michigan)

  3. Fresno County Superior Court (Fresno, California)

  4. Buffalo City Court (Buffalo, New York)

  5. Jackson County Courts Building (Pascagoula, Mississippi)

  6. Philadelphia Municipal Services Building (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

  7. Akron Municipal Court (Akron, Ohio)

  8. Atlantic City Municipal Court (Atlantic City, New Jersey)

  9. Bentonville Public Works Maintenance Facility (Bentonville, Arkansas)

  10. Tuscaloosa County Public Works Building (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: This building in Maine is one of the ugliest in the U.S., says survey

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