The Joseph Shepard Building is located in the urban core of the North York region of Toronto. The fourteen-storey, modern office complex is pyramidal in form with stepped massing and an asymmetrical plan. The building's walls are clad in rust-red and brown clay brick and have continuous bands of windows and brick spandrels that create a strong horizontal emphasis. Prominent features of its design are its five-storey atrium, many open-air terraces, public courtyard and accessible mall. A strong architectural vocabulary unifies the interior and exterior. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

The Ontario pavilion, located between the Canada and Quebec pavilions, features an opaque glass roof made up of several pyramids of different sizes. A group of large granite blocks, symbolizing the Canadian shield, forms an interesting rest area and provides a popular spot for young climbers. Young people are the focus of this pavilion, alongside exhibits about Ontario's past, present and future.