I don’t know, but a lot of public sector buildings seem to be built in this way. Looming monolithic structures with little to no natural light, and grimy linoleum flooring. Visit your local city hall or similar. It’s weird because I’ve not experienced the same in the UK, where government buildings are usually (ignoring the beautiful historic ones) built more like any other modern office.

Much of the the US was built up in the 1960s. Architecture was brutal and hasn’t aged well.

My high school was designed by an architectural firm that litterly designed prisons for the state.

As was mine.

A neighboring school to my high school actually was a women's prison before it was repurposed as a high school.

That said, the architecture was actually quite nice, with lots of natural light and open space.

It was the ubiquitous architectural style mid-century. Combined with crime wave that has long since crashed.