The main entry is centered on the Joplin Street facade. The 1936 addition filled the site to the original west property line. The original site plan indicated concrete curbs at the north and east sides of the building, which remain today. The north entry has been moved one bay to the west and the formal steps at the main east entry have been replaced with a disabled access ramp and new stair. Window wells, to provide daylight into basement spaces, are covered with original decorative wrought iron bars. There are small landscaped yards at the north and part of the east sides. The Federal Building and Courthouse was designed in the era of centralized Federal government buildings that preceded the Great Depression, and during the secondary growth and development of the West. The building program was the result of rapid growth following the development of natural resources, with the influx of population resulting in the formation of cities, all of which demanded services as well as law and order. Federal design policies of standardization that were implemented as attempts to meet this demand were executed. Building designs were generated from the Department of the Treasury and its supervising architect. The Federal Building in Joplin is 36,228 square feet in size including the 1936 addition. The exterior design of the building combines Federal and Renaissance Revival styles typical of the Department of the Treasury designs of the period. Drawings for the Joplin Post Office were signed by James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect in 1902. Rectangular in plan, the original building measured 98'-8" across the primary facade, 53'-4" deep, and stood 56'-0" tall. The 1936 addition to the west side of the building extended the basement and ground floor an additional 55'-0". This addition continued the full height of the building on the north and south facades with two wings 29'-10" wide, resulting in a two level light court 37'-8" wide and 55'-0" deep. Today's building is almost square at the basement and first levels, and 'U' shaped at the second, third and roof levels. The two primary facades of the building are faced in Carthage limestone, with a smooth faced modular red brick on the upper levels. The secondary facades have limestone accent detailing with the same red brick between. The brick mortar is white with a tooled joint accenting the red brick. The 1936 addition was blended into the original construction at the north facade, resulting in an integrated appearance. The juncture at the south elevation between the original building and the 1986 addition was less well integrated, changing from brick to limestone at the joint.