The use of stone, in addition to the school's red brick, was intended to allow the Sandy Beaver Center to become the focal point within the main courtyard on campus. According to Architect Laurie Canup of Atlanta-based Lord, Aeck & Sargent, the school's superintendent, Col. Michael Hughes, wanted the building to match the style of the surrounding buildings, but at the same time, be more expressive and inspirational.
The base of the center and the entry tower are comprised of Tennessee Chopped Stacked Stone with a random rubble stone coursing. According to Canup, several types of stone were considered before making the final decision, and they chose the regional stone because it worked well with the color palette that was already in place at the school. The stone was also chosen to provide a softer look and to add life to the building.