The building itself is fashioned in a classical Baroque style, combining elements from many different existing buildings.  The general shape of the bottom two floors was inspired by the Paris opera.  The curved porch was taken from the White House.  The angled roof with a set of large vertical columns super-imposed over a wider, horizontal span was copied from San Giorgio Maggiore, in Venice (by Andre Palladio).  Strangely enough, the final effect is vaguely Germanic, although this was not at all intended.

The bell in the tower at the top is rung 15 minutes before a performance to let patrons know they need to hurry to their seats.

The third story is left open as a vaulted ceiling.

The second story houses the upper lobby and monorail station, in the front, and, the upper half of the theater in the back (see interior shots).

Citizens may use the station without actually attending events in the Hall of Fine Arts.  The city government granted the land for free in exchange for the builder integrating this public monorail station into the structure.

Other funds came from various public and private donations from groups like the ABS foundation, The Susan Williams fine arts group, The Cuitie Corporation, and many others.