Built in 1909, the building was one of Los Angeles's first skyscrapers and upon completion was home to a 28,000 square feet (2,600 m2) Mullen and Bluett department store in its basement and bottom three stories.

[7] It was built using reinforced concrete with a terra cotta facade, and features Beaux Arts architecture with heavy cornice, decorative bands, and arched windows.

"[6] All interior corridors feature marble floors and wainscoting to the height of the doors.

[5] The lobby also features a compact marble staircase, wide banisters, two-story newel posts, and a Tiffany-style stained glass skylight.

[3] Upon opening, the building's ground floor contained the largest plate glass windows west of Chicago.