El Paso Building Named Among Ugliest In The United States

It's very rare when El Paso makes a national list, and even when we do make it, it's never good news! Which is why I hate to be the bearer of bad news today. Looks like El Paso made a not-so-good list again, however, I think they could cut us some slack.

A new nationwide survey ranked the 100 ugliest public buildings in America, and the Sun City landed in the top ten. More than 3,000 respondents across the country voted on the least attractive government structures, creating a coast-to-coast snapshot of architecture that residents love to hate.

El Paso’s Ugliest Building

Coming in at No. 10 is the El Paso County Court Administration Building, a mid-20th century structure often criticized for its stark and utilitarian design.

The survey, conducted in July 2025 with a representative sample of Americans, revealed that courthouses and judicial centers dominated the rankings. Many of these buildings, including El Paso’s, were constructed during the era of brutalist architecture meant to project authority and efficiency but now often seen as cold, concrete fortresses.

Now, I for one, think this was a bit of a harsh judgement. I actually think the building isn’t too ugly, nor do I think it’s a “stark contrast” to the other buildings around it. But I am a born and bred El Pasoan, so I might be a bit biased. I think many buildings downtown are actually pretty cool.

While the ranking may sting for locals (like me), it does put a spotlight on a building many El Pasoans pass by without a second thought.

The former U.S. Courthouse, also known as the El Paso Federal Building or the County Court Administration Building, has stood downtown since 1936. Designed in a mix of Neo-Classical Revival and Art Deco styles, the five-story limestone structure was once home to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and still houses some federal offices today. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it remains a prominent fixture of the city’s civic landscape, even if the recent survey wasn’t exactly flattering.

Sure, El Paso’s former federal courthouse may have landed in the top ten of America’s “ugliest” public buildings, but let’s be honest, it’s not that bad! At the end of the day, beauty (and ugliness) is in the eye of the beholder, and for many El Pasoans this historic building is less of an eyesore and more of a landmark that tells part of the city’s story.