The total of six stories for the main structure makes the building the tallest in the city, tied with Tuality Community Hospital.

In addition to government offices, the Civic Center includes retail space, public plazas, and residential housing.

After completion in 2005, the building was awarded the LEED Gold certification for sustainability, the second city hall in the United States to earn that distinction.

Environmentally friendly technologies used include occupancy sensors, ventilation that monitors carbon dioxide levels to determine when to activate, high performance exterior glass to reduce heat loss, and solar panels to generate electricity.

[1] These plans included designs for public plazas, a library branch, residential units, retail space, and a new city hall.

[6] Construction on the complex began in June 2003 when an old grain store at the site was demolished to make room for the center.

[14] Designed by Portland-based firm, LRS Architects, Hillsboro's Civic Center is a modern glass building with a stone base and brick highlights.

[16] The plazas surrounding the structures contain an inlaid quartzite river, basalt planters, and Victorian style benches.

[9] Hillsboro Civic Center won the award for Best Public Project in the state of Oregon for 2005 from Northwest Construction magazine for the general contractor Skanska USA.

[23] Other environmental friendly amenities include occupancy sensors, ventilation that monitors carbon dioxide levels to determine when to activate, high performance exterior glass to reduce heat loss, infrared bathroom fixtures, and the use of recycled building materials among other items.

[16][22] On the ground floor of the center's north wing (called the Plaza Building) is a Starbucks coffee shop in a 1,600-square-foot (150 m2) space, while the 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) designed for the library branch remained open for future government use in 2005.