Designed in the Italian Romanesque style this four story building was constructed with reinforced concrete. The Burroughs Avenue facade is faced with cream-colored terra cotta, wthich extends over the first bay of the east and west elevations.The Burroughs facade is divided into five bay of double-hung windows separated by terra cotta engage Byzantine columns with composite capitals. The fourth-floor windows terminate in Romanesque arches infilled with verdigris marble, while the verdigris marble spandrels separate the second-third and fourth-story windows. Four, diamond-shaped verdigris marble insets are located above the arches of the fourth-story windows on the end bays of the Burroughs facade and the first bays of the east and west elevations. Several of the windows have been removed and replaced with glass block. The pedestrian entrance is located within the west corner, where two carved terra cotta details have been removed. The construction method is defined on the exterior, as the bands of concrete are exposed on the other facades. Several original steel sash windows are still intact.

The building was dedicated to the graphic arts. It was home for many years to the Wayne Color Plate Company (photo engravers)' Henry Thomas Plate Company (lithography company), Brown Art Studio. and Michigan Electroplate and Stereotype Company. An article from the Detroiter describes the building as complete, especially designed and constructed to meet the needs of those services identified with the graphic arts. With every study and thought given to ideal conditions for ventilation. lighting and location, it is extremely desirable as a home for artists and kindres services to advertisers. A step form Woodward, the Graphic Arts Building is close to the heart of Detroit's advertising.