One of the notable aesthetic attributes of the building is the concave vertical slope of its north and south facades, on 42nd and 43rd Street. This is similar to another of Bunshaft’s creations, the Solow Building, which is no coincidence, as he had used the initial, rejected façade design for that building in his design for the Grace Building.[1] The exterior of the building is covered in white travertine, which forms a contrast against the black windows and makes the building appear brighter than those surrounding it.

The Grace Building in located on the former site of Stern’s department stores’ flagship location and headquarters.

In 2005, the City University of New York opened a “Welcome Center” on the ground floor of the Grace Building as a one-stop information center for prospective students.