[2] The federal government acquired the site, which was previously home to the East Denver High School, in three parcels between 1928 and 1930 for just under $300,000.

[2] Designs for the original portion of the building, completed in 1931, came from the Office of the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury, which at that time was led by James A. Wetmore.

The arched first floor window and door openings, detailed cornices, emphasis on the horizontal elements, and stately overall appearance of the building are all characteristic of this architectural style.

The remainder of the Nineteenth, Stout, and California street elevations of the building are clad in smooth-rubbed, coarse cut Colorado Yule marble with terra-cotta ornamentation.

Decorative terra cotta swags are located above the ornamental grillwork that flanks the main entry door.

Spandrels that separate the second, third, and fourth story windows feature eagles and shields, emphasizing the federal use of the building.

The primary entrance is on Nineteenth Street at the midpoint of the south elevation, and a penthouse is located above this central point that rises twenty feet above the parapet coping (decorative capping at the top of the wall).

Tuscan order columns flanking the entrance support an entablature inscribed with the name of the building and capped by a decorative cartouche.

Glass panes allow light to flood the lobby and the bronze surrounds and details reinforce the stately appearance of the building.

[2] The 1937 addition resulted in extensions to each side of the building that nearly doubled the area and made the central courtyard less visible from the street.

Additional penthouses were added at the California and Stout Street ends of the building to house the upper portions of the elevator shafts.