Elegant is the best word to describe this building. It is stately, clean, uncomplicated, but still classical in appearance. In fact, its original architect, Carl Engel described it as having "an elegance" in one of his last known letters before his death. Engel died before his building was completed. His successor changed some elements of the construction, but not the central theme – a Greek cross floor plan, and façade reminiscent of early Greek architecture. The four corner towers are the work of Ernst Lohrmann who completed the structure.