10 examples of Brutalist architecture in Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

Emerging as a popular architectural style after World War II, Brutalism is characterized by minimalist constructions that showcase the bare building materials and visible structural elements over decorative design. By the late 1970s, the architectural style had fallen out of favor worldwide. An architectural style closely associated with urban renewal, the urban core of Jacksonville is home to many examples of Brutalist architecture. Here are ten examples of the architectural style, in and around Downtown Jacksonville.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/10-examples-of-brutalist-architecture-in-jacksonville/

[acme54321]

The Metropolitan Lofts building is missing the concrete but gives off a serious brutalist vibe too.

[jaxlongtimer]

If showing lots of concrete on the outside surface of the building is the main criteria, here are a few more candidates:

FSCJ Main Downtown Campus Building:



The William Morgan designed former Daniel State Office Building, now a meeting room venue and parking garage for the Hyatt Hotel:



The Hyatt Hotel (formerly Adams Mark Hotel) itself:


Any of the many Downtown parking garages, maybe the most "brutal" buildings of all  :

[Adam White]

While brutalist architecture is known for using concrete, it's not strictly necessary for a brutalist structure to be made of concrete. Similarly, not all concrete structures are brutalist.

I'd argue that a couple in this article (which is great, btw) aren't brutalist, strictly-speaking. But then again, I am no architect.

[thelakelander]

Which few don't you believe are brutalist?

[Peter Griffin]

I'd imagine quite a few of the older buildings at UNF would qualify as brutalist, too. The modern buildings are very airy-glassy-modern, but the low-numbered buildings built in the 70's are hefty concrete behemoths, very imposing.

[Adam White]

Which few don't you believe are brutalist?

I am not sure Centennial Towers and the hospital are and the jail probably isn't. Not sold on MOSH either, though it's hard to say - it's definitely within the time period for brutalism (even if at the end). The Federal Reserve Bank might not be - it's hard to say, as I cannot tell by looking at the picture.

[thelakelander]

What style would you classify them as? I thought they were Brutalist moreso than something like MCM.

[Adam White]

What style would you classify them as? I thought they were Brutalist moreso than something like MCM.

I am not 100% sure what style they are - and I could totally be wrong about whether or not they qualify as brutalism (raw concrete aside). Having seen an awful lot of brutalist buildings in the 'flesh', I don't get brutalism from some of those. The jail kind of has that vibe, though I suspect it is more the result of its job and the need to be secure more than anything else. I think that AT&T building is brutalist and is the best example. The Hogan Creek building also seems reminiscent of Corbusier, so I can totally see that.

Edit: I assume a lot of those are just late modernism or something. But not sure, tbh. My initial post was as much in response to the response - with pictures of parking garages - as much as it was to the original article. Those parking garages are just concrete buildings - they aren't brutalist parking garages - those actually exist or existed and you can see the difference:

[jaxlongtimer]

u][/u]]

My initial post was as much in response to the response - with pictures of parking garages - as much as it was to the original article. Those parking garages are just concrete buildings - they aren't brutalist parking garages - those actually exist or existed and you can see the difference:   

To be clear, my inclusion of the parking garages was meant to be more of a tongue-in-cheek commentary on their "brutal" appearance than to be a true example of "brutalistic" architecture, i.e. making a play on the word.

[Adam White]

u][/u]]

My initial post was as much in response to the response - with pictures of parking garages - as much as it was to the original article. Those parking garages are just concrete buildings - they aren't brutalist parking garages - those actually exist or existed and you can see the difference:   

To be clear, my inclusion of the parking garages was meant to be more of a tongue-in-cheek commentary on their "brutal" appearance than to be a true example of "brutalistic" architecture, i.e. making a play on the word.

Fair play. Sorry for being so literal!