Architecture in the Raw: The Past, Present and Future of Brutalism

Friday, February 27, 2026 • 12pm - 6pm

Location:

Thomas Jefferson University, East Falls Campus

Design, Engineering and Commerce (DEC) Forum

4201 Henry Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19144

As brutalist architecture is under threat, it remains crucial to study the mid-20th Century architectural form for understanding societal ideals that represent a raw honesty, functionality, and post-war optimism through its use of exposed concrete and bold forms. This material honesty is most visual in the use of raw materials, especially beton brut (raw concrete) and exposed building services, making the structure and construction part of the aesthetic, rather than hidden.

Brutalist buildings evoke strong reactions — as we continue to see today with plans to tear down a number of historic buildings in Washington. The shear mass and durability of these structures automatically lead to discussions about preservation and repurposing as well as how these powerful forms continue to influence design and shape our urban experiences.

This symposium will take a look at the original intent of brutalist architecture, how we can preserve it and what the future of the form might be. We have gathered an illustrious group of experts and practitioners to focus on the role brutalism has and can play in the urban landscape.

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