Brutalist Capital of the Midwest: Chicago, Illinois

Hello very much dear peers! Today, I will be sharing with you some famous Chicago buildings, specifically those with brutalist architecture. I have a deep appreciation for brutalist architecture and feel very grateful that it is a large part of UIC's campus. It is harsh and unloving, but at the same time, it feels monumental and, in the wise words of Hayden Anhedönia, erotic.

According to Quinn Myers of WTTW, the general characterization of brutalism is "the use of exposed concrete, often used to create geometric, grid-like monoliths that dominate their surroundings." Many individuals feel brutalist buildings create a domineering and inhospitable environment. Therefore, the brutalist style is dying, and many brutalist buildings are being demolished.

We can see the movement against brutalism within our own campus. UIC's campus was built and opened in the 60s, during the height of brutalism in Chicago. The Behavioral Sciences Building, Student Center East, Richard Daley Library, and, my personal favorite, University Hall are all examples of brutalist buildings on campus. However, the switch from brutalism to more modern styles is happening before our eyes: Taft Hall is being renovated in a modern style and the newly opened computer science building does NOT fit brutalism at all. I feel quite sad about this because, despite how cold brutalism can make one feel, I find this coldness and dominance beautiful.

As stated before, brutalism was extremely popular in North America during the 1960s and 70s. During this time, Chicago had a period of exponential urban growth which is why there are so many brutalist buildings across the city. It was a popular style for university and commercial buildings, and it proved to produce "cost-effective and durable" structures (Archgyan).

The most famous example of brutalism in Chicago is the Marina City complex, also known as the Wilco Towers. At the time of its construction, the two towers were the tallest residential buildings in the world. I have a personal connection to these buildings as well. When I was 9-years-old, my dad took me to see Nik Wallenda walk across a tightrope blindfolded over the Chicago River and then between the Wilco Towers. I remember that it was freezing cold, the red fireworks after Wallenda completed this record-breaking stunt, and being so tired by the end of the event.

Marina City Towers. Taken by 2candle & uploaded on Wikipedia.

I know you all see this building every day, but I cannot talk about brutalism without showcasing my favorite building on campus: University Hall. UIC's University Hall was designed by Walter Netsch and completed in 1965. It is the tallest building in Chicago's west side, standing at 338 feet tall. I love how this building sticks out on campus. It is HUGE, and there are no buildings next to it, which makes it very noticeable. It weirdly gets wider the taller it gets, which I also find very silly.

University Hall at UIC. Taken by Marshall Gerometta.

Another funky looking brutalist building is the original Prentice Women's Hospital. This building was designed by Bertrand Goldberg in 1971 and completed in 1975. Unfortunately, it was vacated in 2011 and demolished in 2014, only 39 years after its construction.

Original Prentice Women's Hospital. Sourced from Stephan Roman on Pinterest.

UIC is not the only university you can find with brutalist architecture. DePaul University is home to the Schmitt Academic Center, a building made of harsh angles, long concrete lines, and minimal windows. The center was built in 1967.

Schmitt Academic Center at DePaul University. Sourced from Myrmicat on Reddit.

Another university building in the brutalist style is University of Chicago's Regenstein Library. It was designed by Walter Netsch, the same designer of UIC's University Hall! Its construction was completed in 1970. My favorite part of the library are the staircases.

Outside Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago. Sourced from Architectuul.

Sourced from Architectuul.

A Regenstein Library staircase. Sourced from Architectuul.

The Lincoln Executive Plaza building, most recently the Daily Herald building, is near Des Plaines, Illinois. However, I still want to include it because it looks really cool. I believe it is permanently closed, but I do not believe it has been demolished. I could not find a lot of information about it online. It was designed by Peter Tsolinas.

UPDATE: I passed by this building on Saturday, October 18th, 2025. It is so much cooler in person. My phone shut off right before I could get a picture (just my luck...), but it was beautiful. It looked closed, however, there was a large banner that said Bradford Allen on it. I looked it up, but nothing states it is owned by the company yet. Very mysterious..

Lincoln Executive Building. Taken by deleted user on Reddit.

Inside of Lincoln Executive Plaza. Taken by Movieshowtheater on Imgur.

That's all I have for you today! There are many, many, MANY more examples of brutalism across Chicago, and I encourage you to explore and find appreciation for the dying style. I think it is very special that we can witness brutalism daily because not many people have the opportunity to.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!