The massiveness of this building could be a problem, but it is redeemed by its style. A paragon of Art Deco, the granite and limestone skyscraper is made noteworthy by ornamental details such as highly stylized flora and fauna, fasces, and eagles. Like all federal buildings in this category, the supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury, in this case, James A. Wetmore, oversaw the design. Local architects Cram and Ferguson were hired to design the exterior, unusual for its combination of granite and limestone. The building features certain elements characteristic of its time, especially the pronounced emphasis on verticality achieved through narrow bands of windows. The City of Boston acquired the building for court space after the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse (SB5) was constructed on Fan Pier.