Built between 1937 and 1941, Nix Federal Building was designed by Harry Sternfeld in the Moderne style and features several sculptures and reliefs by Donald De Lue and Edmond Amateis.

[Notes 1] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990,[8] and is part of the Mark East neighborhood.

Its seven stories have a height of about 115 feet (35 m) above grade and include a basement, a mezzanine between the first and second floors, and two penthouses.

[3] Central air-conditioning was a feature of the original construction, but records indicate that more than 270 window units were installed over time, and then removed during a 1989 restoration.

Handicapped access was installed at the eastern entrance on Market Street, but otherwise the exterior appears as it was originally designed.