Unchanged since its construction in 1930, the building was totally deficient in the infrastructure necessary for laboratories, including HVAC, power, plumbing services, and telecommunications. High floor-to-floor heights made accommodating updated systems and services much easier. A rooftop penthouse was added to accommodate air handlers, a fumehood exhaust system, and plumbing services.

The spatial distribution on each floor follows a racetrack scheme with laboratory benches on the sides and support spaces in the center of the floor plate. The design takes advantage of the existing large windows and creates pass-through space at the center of each floor. There are six to seven benches on either side of the floor. Rooms occupied for extended periods of time and open-laboratory areas are located along the perimeter where they may benefit from natural light. The central core is configured on a floor-by-floor basis for specific laboratory support functions such as glass wash, cold rooms, and electrophysiology and microscopy areas. The laboratory space is open and continuous, allowing for bench areas to be adjusted per changing researcher requirements. Conference and common rooms are located in the irregularly shaped spaces at the end of each floor that provide views to the East River and the landscaped campus to the south.