It has a three-bay Classical Revival front covered with glazed terra cotta blocks, of a 50 by 140 feet (15 m × 43 m) footprint. The two-story commercial block building has a flat roof and brick party and rear walls.[2]
It was deemed significant as "one of the city's most architecturally refined buildings": although "it is not an especially exuberant or palatial example of early 20th century movie theater architecture, the Rialto is well proportioned and well articulated. It well represents Loveland building trends as well as national motion picture theater trends for the period. The Rialto is one of the last main street theatres in northern Colorado with any remaining architectural integrity. The marquee replacement and the most recent alterations have compromised the Rialto visually, but the building still retains a high degree of integrity of location, setting and association...."[2]
Modifications to the theater have tended to contribute to, rather than detract from, its architectural character.[3]