Above the common areas and modular labs, the building contains four levels of animal facilities. In each of the one hundred animal rooms are individual controls for temperature, pressure, and lighting. These controls are also linked to a Direct Digital Control system which centrally controls the entire building. The animal facility is provided with a highly redundant air supply system, exhaust and electrical power. Many of the experiments in this area have been ongoing for lengthy periods of time making it is critical to provide appropriate environmental conditions. An animal surgery suite containing 10 surgery rooms has been included for researcher use.

The energy needs of the building are provided for by two energy recovery systems tied into the building's heating and cooling systems. Heat is recovered from the incinerator, and depending on the weather conditions, warm/cool air from the exhaust air stream.

A glass curtainwall exterior for the building was selected in order to visually link together the Medical Research Facility with the Eye and Ear Institute. The Medical Research Facility is designed as an infill between the Biomedical Science Tower and the Eye and Ear Institute. Two pedestrian bridges connect the third level of the building with Montefiore University Hospital to the west and Presbyterian University Hospital to the east.