[9] The exterior base was sheathed in Vert Island Stone from Ontario, Canada, with the upper floors finished with red terra cotta and St. Louis brick.

The lobby, including the walls and stairs, was finished using white marble, as were the interior hallways in the rest of the building, with the woodwork in the offices being of Cuban mahogany.

"[10] Originally built with eleven stories above ground, two floors were added in 1892 by the Western Union Telegraph Company, a subsequent owner.

The Phenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company occupied the top two floors of the building as its Southern and Western Departments headquarters,[12] and leased the remainder of the space.

Because of its proximity to the city’s many railroad terminals, the building provided office space to a number of railway-oriented manufacturers and suppliers, along with several of the area's passenger and freight railway companies.