The nine-story spine sits above this rising to a height of 197 feet (60 m) with ten-story wings buttressing each corner.

The entrance is recessed in a three-story barrel vault arch which continues into the building to form the lobby ceiling.

This served as the broadcast tower for WXYZ radio (both WXYZ-AM and WXYZ-FM [now WRIF]), and television, until the station moved to new facilities in 1959.

When the Maccabees organization vacated the building in 1960, the Detroit Public School System (DPS) purchased it for a headquarters.

After acquisition, initial reviews of the structure estimated that façade repairs would cost $1.95 million; upgrades to the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, $960,000; repairs to utility shaft and exit stairways, $405,000; and elevator upgrades, $770,000.

[7] The entire structure was renovated in 2004 and 2005 with second, third and fourteenth floors equipped to house the Wayne State University Computer Science Department.

The space will be upgraded in phases to install new equipment and provide internships for students in the university's media arts programs.