Architectural features consist of elements that allow the building to blend in with the existing surroundings, while still displaying features that highlight its new usage. Structural features include six-foot wide concrete walls that serve as a protective barrier, from the radiation emitted from the cyclotron. The new compressor building will aid in the initiation of recycled water for future heating use for the rest of the University of British Columbia campus. The construction materials include concrete, structural steel, metal cladding and curtain wall. Some of the surrounding walls at ARIEL are nine feet thick to protect the surrounding environment from any form of radiation exposure.

Some mechanical features include radioactive venting, stainless steel enclosures, HEPA and carbon dioxide scrubbers, that purify the air, and three different sanitary systems. This project was designed to LEED® Gold standards. This facility offers two completely different electrical systems: a high voltage system and a low voltage system. These two integrated systems work together to meet the highly demanding power requirements for each of the building’s elements.