Owensboro City Hall Named One of America’s Ugliest Buildings

Let me preface everything you’re about to read by saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder – and that I am simply the messenger, here. Oh, and I’m sorry in advance if your feelings get hurt.

The Survey Behind the “Ugliest Buildings” List

I ran across a recent survey, conducted by the New Jersey Real Estate Network (random), that lists the “100 Ugliest Public Buildings in America.” A total of 3,000 people voted in the survey, which is a teeny, tiny sample size compared to the 340 million people who live in America.

Owensboro City Hall Lands at #44

I was scrolling through the results, wondering if I would find a building that I’m familiar with, when all of a sudden, about halfway down the list, I saw Owensboro City Hall. I was bummed to see, and sorry to report, that it was ranked the 44^th ugliest building in the country. Really, though?

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Is Owensboro City Hall Really Ugly?

Is there anything special or flashy about Owensboro City Hall? No, not at all, but that doesn’t necessarily make it ugly. Bland, maybe. Plain, sure – but “ugly” is just not a word I would use to describe it. I wonder if any of the 3,000 people who voted have even been to Owensboro.

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When you check out the rest of the list, you can definitely see a pattern, or a theme - city halls, auditoriums, and libraries seem to be an easy target. There are also plenty of courthouses and multi-use civic centers that come off as “flat, uninspired, or just plain cold.”

Kentucky Isn’t Alone on the List

Don’t feel too bad, though, Kentucky – your neighbors to the north (Indiana) had two ugly buildings on the list, including one in downtown Evansville. The same goes for your neighbors to the south. Two Tennessee buildings made the list, including one in Nashville.