[13] The building itself is an enormous concrete structure which terminates in a semicircle, and ranges in height from four to six stories.

[13] The design is a notable example of Brutalist architecture, and was heavily influenced by the philosophy of Le Corbusier.

[13] The building was hailed by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission as "one of the most striking and innovative contemporary structures in the state" when it opened in 1972.

[13] Over time, the Brutalist style generally lost its appeal and became seen as "drab," "hulking," and "bureaucratic," associated with large-scale mass-planning.

It replaced the Knightly News, which had been active in the 1980s, but had become defunct several years prior to the Lens' founding.