Wolfgang Pehnt cited the Milwaukee County War Memorial in his essay “Was ist Brutalismus?” (“What is Brutalism?”) from 1960 as an example for the global spread of Brutalism. The building separates three functions in three spaces: A platform, housing a museum, an inner courtyard, acting as the memorial, and the cantilevered volumes for conference rooms. Drawing from Le Corbusier, these rooms are elevated on polygonal pilotis.

The Milwaukee County War Memorial is in use and in good structural condition, and its long-term future is secured by a current preservation initiative (US$18 million fund). It has been protected as a Milwaukee landmark since 1974, but is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places (last updated on August 11, 2025).