[5] The building is built in an austere blending of the Renaissance Revival and Art Deco styles.

[3] Construction of the John Archibald Campbell United States Courthouse began in 1934 on the north half of a city block facing Saint Joseph Street, then adjacent to the 1916 United States Post Office building.

Having a monumental scale and finer materials than most of the surrounding structures, this ensemble created a strong presence for the federal government in downtown Mobile.

[2] The new courthouse building was designed by the Mobile architectural firm of Carey and Dowling, with Louis A. Simon as the federal Supervising Architect.

It was designed the Office of the Supervising Architect under Simon to seamlessly match the existing structure.

The old Custom House and Post Office was demolished in 1963 and the First National Bank Building was built on the site.

The east façade, which is the primary elevation, is divided thirteen bays on every floor except the fifth, which has eleven.

The first floor on this elevation has a bronze gate that takes up three of the bays, with windows set into the remainder.

The center five bays of these floors are recessed with windows that have carved limestone panels underneath each.

Each of these solid panels feature a carved limestone plaque and a bronze flagpole projecting from the façade.

The main lobby, entry vestibule, and flanking hallway are all Art Deco in style, with walls clad in corbeled travertine.