At the time it was built, it was one of the few structures west of Washington Street, not far from agricultural fields, experimental plots, stockyards, chicken coops and barns.

Whitehurst stands three stories tall with reinforced concrete floors, a flat roof and brick walls.

[1] Renovations to Whitehurst Hall were made in 1936, including the addition of the fourth floor, after damage to the building occurred and repairs were already necessary.

[2] On Friday the 13th, 1936 there was an explosion in a 3½-square-foot tunnel below the 6 inch concrete floor, which ran inside foundation walls and around the building.

Natural gas, which leaked into the tunnel system, was ignited after an accidental spark was introduced during routine maintenance for a clogged drain.