It was designed by Robertson, Marks and McCredie in association with DT Morrow and Gordon and built from 1937 to 1939 by William Hughes and Co. Pty Ltd.

It brought geometric Art Deco design and modernism to the city skyline with polished trachyte facing at ground level intending to signal a progressive and go-ahead firm.

The building is decorated with appropriate symbols of communication, including a winged Pegasus, said to be chosen by Sir Ernest Fisk, the pioneer of wireless technology and a founding director of AWA.

[3] For many years, the tower wore the sign "Beam Wireless", a service providing radio contact to commercial shipping on the England–Australia route introduced in 1927.

Pegasus, a winged horse, was chosen by Sir Ernest Fisk as a suitable association with the work of Australia's great wireless undertaking.

[1] The York Street Entry Foyer and Lift Lobby is faced with Wombeyan Russet marble with simple Art Deco streamlined detail and the letter AWA over the entrance.

A series of small reliefs along the north and south walls represent various nations, symbolising the unification of the world throughout radio.

[6] The former Entrance Lobby interior retains a map of the world incised into the polished trachyte wall above the auditorium doors.

[1][2][6] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

AWA Building and Tower is aesthetically significant because it is a simple vertical "emphasised" skyscraper which represents the epitome of the 1930s desire to integrate architecture with technology.