It was first used for medical offices. Architect Hunt met with many of the local doctors to determine the design of the building. Nearly each of the providers was a stockholder of the building, and the person who sold the land for it, Adolph Ochs, was also an investor. The Medical Arts building featured a design of practicality and elegance. The telephone system routed calls directly to the doctor's office. Physicians checked in and out with an operator so that they could always be reached. By being a high-rise, the building didn't have long corridors found in single-level buildings. Materials used in construction included alabaster, brass, marble, steel, and walnut.