It is one of 35 buildings constructed during Taylor's tenure (1883–1912) that were designed by independent architects commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Tarsney Act.

Celebrated architect Daniel Burnham, who was instrumental in promoting the nationwide adoption of City Beautiful Movement principles, served as a member of the design team that produced the Group Plan.

Cleveland's Public Library (1925), forming the other half of this terminus, emulates the Federal Building in scale, mass, and general overall appearance.

Courthouse is one of Cleveland's great monumental public buildings, skillfully illustrating the strong, classical characteristics of Beaux-Arts architecture.

[2] Inspiration for the design of this Beaux Arts building came from the Place de la Concorde in Paris as well as the work of French architect and theorist Francois Blondel.

A low-hipped, standing-seam copper roof crowns the building with attic dormer windows facing the interior light court.

[2] Flanking the primary entrance are two important sculptures executed by the famed sculptor Daniel Chester French (1850–1931).

Commerce is depicted as a female figure holding a model ship in one hand while her other arm rests on a globe representing the opportunity for world trade.

On the interior, the grand main lobby dominates the first floor as it runs east to west across the entire length of the building.

Marble stairs wrap around three sides of the elevator shafts, located at the east and west ends of the public lobby.

Corner offices in the upper floors are adorned with impressive murals depicting significant events in the history of Cleveland.

Among the magnificent artworks are City of Cleveland Welcomes the Arts by Will Hicok Low (1853–1932), and the Battle of Lake Erie by Rufus Fairchild Zogbaum (1849–1925).