The building was built in 1889 for the present-day Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and was designed by Elah Terrell and Joseph W. Yost.

The building was located on East Broad Street on the city's downtown Capitol Square, opposite the Ohio Statehouse.

The central bay featured a trio of round-arched windows separated by columns at its top level, capped with a steep hip roof.

[2] Early in the building's history, it was a prominent landmark on East Broad Street, and was built in a modern and fashionable style with weighty elements that reflected the permanence of both the Board of Trade and the city it represented.

[3] On May 3, 1888, workers removed scaffolding amid construction, unexpectedly collapsing a basement ceiling arch.