It was designed by Louis Kamper in the Art Deco architectural style, and its materials include granite, limestone, marble, and terra cotta.

The Water Board Building is triangular in shape, for its triangle-shaped plot of land, occupying the entire block formed by Randolph, Farmer, and Bates Streets.

The building's site was originally part of East Grand Circus Park as designated in 1806.

The building is composed of a five-story base topped by 15 more floors of office space, and crowned with a three-story penthouse.

[1] The exterior of the penthouse is actually painted terra cotta, with the rest of the building is faced in Bedford limestone.