George L. Mosse Humanities Building

The Brutalist architecture movement took hold in the 1950s but hit its stride in Wisconsin in the 1960s, with a handful of buildings popping up in the state. This modernist style focuses heavily on fortress-like, concrete structures popular with governmental institutions and universities. True to the times, Brutalism is fundamentally about rejecting tradition and convention and can be found in both Wisconsin’s state capitol, Madison, and its largest city, Milwaukee. Here are some of the best examples of Brutalist architecture in the state.