A band of light gray limestone in the exterior wall divides the first and second floors. The outside walls are faced with a Flemish bond pattern of red brick from the Danville area. The spacing of entries, windows and other elements is regular and symmetrical. Architect Joseph Button successfully adapted the architectural style of the Georgian manor house to the institutional scale of the Natural Resources Building in 1939. The original centerpiece was completed in 1942 and the wings were added in 1950.
Trimmed openings divide and lighten the large roof and wall surfaces.
The earthy, low-key colors of the slate, brick, and limestone trim create division and detail. The effect is one of imposing stability and balance. A greenish gray slate covers the roof. It is an excellent roof material for two reasons. Two, slate has a fine grained surface that is relatively impervious to water.