[2] By the late 19th century, the chapter was one of the leading fraternities on the campus: its members were often leaders of the school's sports teams, and won many academic awards.

It is a distinctive four-story masonry structure, built mainly with load-bearing yellow brick, and trimmed in a variety of materials, including brownstone and terra cotta.

Most window openings have segmented-arch tops, with brick headers and brownstone sills.

[3] The building was designed by Colin Wilson, an English architect, who was chosen over competitors including the noted New York firm Carrère and Hastings.

Wilson, who was then young and relatively unknown, may have been chosen due to an association with a London-based alumnus who funded much of the building's construction cost.