The design of the facility was conceived by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) of New York. A recurring pattern in the project is the use of contrast, whether it is in texture or color. One of the most visible examples of this can be found in the fieldstone walls that are used throughout the grounds of the facility. These rough-faced fieldstone walls stand in sharp contrast to the smooth, glossy surfaces of the buildings themselves. The walls are comprised of Carderock stone, quarried nearby in Bethesda, MD, by Tri-State Stone and Building Supply.
In addition to providing contrast, the fieldstone connects the project to the landscape. According to Senior Designer Jerri Smith of KPF, the use of fieldstone walls create an effect where "the building appears to be literally coming out of the landscape." The tone of the fieldstone also provided warmer colors for the complex.