Join Docomomo Philadelphia for “Architecture in the Raw: The Past, Present & Future of Brutalism,” a day-long symposium examining one of the most polarizing and influential movements in modern architecture. Hosted at Jefferson University’s Lawrence Field DEC Center, the program brings together leading critics, historians, preservationists, and practitioners to explore Brutalism’s cultural origins, design ambitions, and evolving legacy—from postwar Europe to contemporary American campuses and cities.

The day begins with an optional guided tour of Thomas Jefferson University’s Architecture and Design Center led by architectural historian David Zaveloff, followed by a keynote by critic Aaron Betsky, Brutal Truths: Architecture’s Last Hopeful Forms, which frames Brutalism as both a social project and a radical architectural language. Subsequent talks revisit Le Corbusier’s lasting influence, examine the role of concrete architecture in shaping U.S. university campuses, and present a case study of Hotel Marcel, a landmark of adaptive reuse and sustainable preservation.

The afternoon concludes with Pondering Utopia at Pepper Middle School, exploring Brutalism’s civic and educational ideals, and a roundtable discussion moderated by Liz Waykus (Docomomo US) addressing the future of Brutalist architecture in an era of redevelopment, climate responsibility, and changing public opinion. Together, the sessions offer a nuanced look at Brutalism not only as an aesthetic, but as a social, political, and preservation challenge that continues to shape debates about the built environment.

View the agenda on eventbrite.

Friday February 27, 12:00 – 6:00 pm
Thomas Jefferson University DEC Forum
Philadelphia, PA
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