It is an eight-story steel-frame building sheathed with light beige Indiana limestone and gray-green granite as trim at entrances. It was designed by Nashville architect Emmons H. Woolwine and Hirons and Dennison of New York, who won a design competition for the project. It was the first building with central air conditioning in Davidson County.[2]
On May 30, 2020, the building was affected by fire started by rioters.[4] Despite damage, the courthouse still reopened on June 1, 2020,[5] with at least one suspected arsonist arrested.[6]