The irregularly shaped building borders Clinton Street, Milwaukee Avenue, Lake Street, and the former Chicago and North Western tracks, which are now used by Metra for its Union Pacific District.

The power house was built in cream brick with terra cotta trim, cornices, and ornamentation; the corner of the house at Clinton and Milwaukee features a 227-foot (69 m) brick smokestack.

[2] The power house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 2004.

[3] Prior to its designation as a landmark, the building had long been slated for demolition,[4] and its sub-basements were damaged by the 1992 Chicago Flood.

[5] The renovations won the Best Adaptive Reuse award from Landmarks Illinois in 2007.