The building was designed by Texas architect Alfred C. Finn in the Art Deco style, and opened in 1950.

[4] While in the Third Congress of the republic as chairman of the education committee, he also sponsored the "Cullen Act", which started land endowments for schools and universities.

The act effectively lay the basis for an eventual state public school system.

The university hired native Houston architect Alfred C. Finn to design the building.

The building includes "Three portrait reliefs in gilded bronze of the Cullen family" by sculptor Mario Korbel dedicated in 1952.