The new building contains 35,000 square metres (380,000 sq ft) of floor space, is 11 storeys high (including basement) and provides 6 large lecture theatres for students.

This new building would also be designed by Lyons Architects and would provide a large sports hall and allied facilities, including a gymnasium, change-rooms and health consulting suites.

Other ESD features include: The defining element for Lyons design for the Swanston Academic Building was its central site to Melbourne's CBD, which influenced its footprint and form.

Adrian Stanic (Lyons Architectural Director and RMIT alumnus) said in a media release (22/10/2010) “We saw the site as a focal point of the city and looked at how the SAB could create a dialogue with the other landmark buildings that define Melbourne.

Lyons has connected the Swanston Academic Building to the rest of the RMIT campus by designing it with “a sense of openness, transparency and energy".