Landmarks Illinois recently released its annual list of its most endangered historic places in the state, and one of them has the dubious distinction of being labeled the “world’s ugliest courthouse.”
It is the Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet, Illinois, along a southbound alignment of Route 66.
Landmarks Illinois wrote this about the Brutalist-style building:
Built in 1969 and designed by Otto Stark of C.F. Murphy Associates in partnership with Krugel, Healy & Moore Architects, the Brutalist building is at risk of demolition due to Will County’s current lack of interest to explore reuse opportunities for the architecturally significant, but vacant structure.
County officials approved a resolution to demolish the courthouse after breaking ground on a new one in 2019.
A Courthouse Preservation Partnership group has formed on Facebook in an effort to rally for the building’s preservation. It wrote:
Its 40+ foot column gaps, non-load-bearing interior walls, enormous windows, and redundant stairs and elevators are well-suited for a food hall, an art gallery, modern office space, performance spaces, and other creative uses. Its rooftop could host a bar and restaurant with one-of-a-kind views.
Redevelopment can be funded by the private sector. Multiple developers have expressed interest in public-private partnerships in which they would fund renovation costs in exchange for the ability to bring in subtenants. But demolishing and replacing this building would be funded by your taxes: at least $6 million to demolish, plus up to $215 million to design and construct a replacement government building comparable to the newly-opened 2019 courthouse next door.
Half a century ago, we tore down the 1887 Will County Courthouse when the 1969 building was complete. That building’s marble columns, limestone walls, ornate wood and glass, and tall clock tower were at the time considered outdated and decrepit. But we soon came to regret the loss of the 1887 building. We should not make the same mistake again with its 1969 replacement. In Joliet, we have already torn down too much of our history.
Instead, like many other communities around the country, we should preserve this piece of our architectural heritage. This group is for people who want to save the 1969 Will County Courthouse building and pursue its best possible reuses, to benefit all the people of our growing county.
Then there’s this excerpt from a Chicago Sun-Times story, where preservationists have embraced the Will County Courthouse’s reputation:
“We made T-shirts that are supposed to look like sort of vintage souvenir shirts,” said member Greg Peerbolte, chief executive officer of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. “We say, ‘Visit Will County, home of the world’s ugliest courthouse.’ So we’re kind of having fun with that moniker and, and sort of just owning that part of it.”
The preservationists make good points. I’ll be the first to concede I’m no fan of Brutalist architecture. But just a few decades ago, many regarded midcentury design and neon signs as tacky and dated. Now they’re all the rage.
What once was considered ugly may very well be regarded as distinctive and cool in the future.
(Image of the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Illinois, by Landmarks Illinois via Flickr)
“What once was considered ugly may very well be regarded as distinctive and cool in the future.”
And what was once considered “cool” when the silly use of this word was coined is now often thought to be simply stupid. Styles change.
One question whose answer might justify calling this building “distinctive” – instead of just different – is “Why was the base constructed so much smaller than the main part of the court house?” It has me thinking of a very fat person with tiny feet.
Was the architect out to being different for the sake of being different – or was there a practical reason behind the inward sloping base columns?