Gable roofs predominate although some buildings have monitor roofs and some 20th century buildings have flat roofs. As a rule buildings are red brick or brick painted white or grey. Some 20th century buildings are brick and concrete. Trim is generally painted black. There are a number of wide arched entrances and often buildings have arched windows as well.
Applied ornamentation is minimal.
The harmonious effect of these buildings comes from their pleasing proportions, evenly spaced openings, symmetry, and the uniformity of scale and material throughout the district. In size and simplicity of form the buildings reflect their original functions and dates of construction. Unfortunately a number of buildings such as Building 41 and buttressed Building 76 have suffered from 20th century additions and alterations. These attached buildings together have east and west facades over three blocks long, but the continuity of the east facade is broken intermittently by one story additions which destroy the rhythmic division into bays. Almost all industrial buildings abut the streets and many are attached so that there are regular streetlines and a definite feeling of enclosure of space.