The foundations and underpinning are of Portland brown stone, the latter being nine feet high and laid in rock-faced ranine ashlar. Above the underpinning the walls are of New Britain selected brick relieved with bands and ornamented work of buff and black brick. All stone trimmings above the underpinning are of Ohio gray sandstone. The pitch roofs are of dark blue Bangor slate and the decks of tin. The gutters are of galvanized iron and the crestings of terra cotta and iron.
All outside steps are of granite.
The ground floor level is about three feet below the grade-line, the windowsills being above. The hat and cloakrooms, bathrooms, janitor's room, work room and boiler room are all on this floor. Model school rooms have also been arranged on this floor, which are designed as training rooms for the undergraduates. They have separate entrances, hat and cloakrooms and bathrooms connected with them, as it is intended to keep them completely isolated from the Normal School. There is an entrance to the Normal School, situated at the northeast corner.