Like some architecture in British university town's entrance — top-tier (9)

I believe the answer is:

brutalist

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'like some architecture' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'british university town's entrance top-tier' is the wordplay.
'british' becomes 'br' (abbreviation for British).
'entrance' indicates taking the first letters.
'top-tier' becomes 'alist' (I've seen this in another clue).
The initial letters of 'university towns' is 'ut'.
'br'+'ut'+'alist'='BRUTALIST'

'in' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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