On November 3, 1972, a group of around 500 American Indians with the AIM took over the building, the culmination of their Trail of Broken Treaties walk.

[6] The renovation attracted attention as an early test of the Trump administration's efforts to promote neoclassical rather than modern architecture.

[7] The structure is a three-story E-shaped building featuring a raised basement, shallow projecting corner pavilions, and a gabled tile roof.

At the east, south, and west elevations the building is surrounded by raised terrace separated from the exterior walls by an areaway.

[8] The primary facade is faced in white Georgia marble and features a thirteen bay, engaged double-height colonnade of fluted Doric pilasters flanked by shallow projecting corner pavilions.

A large entablature composed of a plain frieze and enriched ornamental cavetto cornice surmounts these pilasters.