The academy is a German example of the first, early period of Brutalism in the spirit of the Hunstanton School. It consists of a three-part ensemble: a bright, cubic exhibition building with a foyer, garden courtyard, and workshops, which interacts with the nature of the surrounding Tiergarten with its open floor-to-ceiling windows, floors lined with slate, the interior wood paneling of Brazilian pine and washed concrete slabs with white Carrara river pebbles on the façade. Behind it is a multi-purpose red brick building with sloping, low-pitched, patinated copper roofs that contains a studio stage and more. The third structure is a five-story administrative building with additional studios, offices, and conference rooms. Rather than exploring extravagant, sculptural shapes, the focus lies on stripped down aesthetics that unapologetically expose the building’s structure and materials.

Heritage protected since 1995. A refurbishment was carried out in 2011. The aim was to restore the building's original appearance by removing slight deformations from the past years and to repair damages in a manner appropriate to the monument. With the help of experts, the original color scheme was reconstructed, and the façades refurbished, while the wood-paneled ceilings made of Brazilian pine were repaired in the interior. Energy and fire protection measures were also undertaken (last updated on May 7, 2024).