The building design consists of three levels above grade with a full basement. It is L-shaped with links to Briggs Hall at each end via the existing south and west stair towers at the first, second and third floor levels. Administrative space is centrally located in the building 'knuckle" at the ground floor. The knuckle space on the upper two floors provides space for casual interaction between researchers. Offices for researchers and technicians have been distributed to all floors and located adjacent to lab space at the user's request, rather than being grouped together and segregated from the laboratory space.

Typical laboratory floors are divided into 27' deep laboratory spaces on both sides of a 22' deep support space. Support and laboratory spaces are accessed by a seven-foot wide continuous circulation corridor. The laboratory areas are designed on a 1O'-6" wide planning module. The laboratory areas are comprised of a combination three-module and two-module spaces. Shared support spaces such as tissue culture rooms, dark rooms, glass washing, environmental rooms, animal holding rooms and equipment rooms are located in the central support space. Desks for laboratory technicians are provided in the lab space and are located immediately adjacent to the exterior wall to take advantage of natural light.

The building massing, materials and architectural expression is contextual, responding to some of the older and more distinguished campus buildings. The exterior walls of the building are precast concrete with a rustication pattern formed by horizontal and vertical one-inch deep chambers. Windows are deeply recessed into the concrete for solar control. Terra cotta is utilized at the building base and surrounding the windows for accent medallions.