In the remote, flat valley surrounded by the San Joaquin Hills, William Pereira designed this building referencing a ziggurat, an ancient Mesopotamian temple. The building was originally built for North American Aviation, a defense and aerospace industries manufacturer, but remained empty for a while after its completion in 1971. In 1978 it was renamed after Congressman Chester E. "Chet" Holifield, who had represented California's 19th District from 1943 to 1974. The building has seven levels and a large flat roof on the top level with attached protruding vertical elements, providing texture to the structure. The façade is constructed of angled, painted, pre-cast concrete panels. It is characterized by weighty, massive forms, rough, exposed concrete surfaces, broad, expansive wall planes, and recessed windows.

Today, the building's primary tenants are the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service. In 2003, state-of-the-art upgrades and modifications to the roofing were completed as part of an energy-saving plan. Elevators, critical to efficient circulation in the building, were upgraded in 2005. The building still contains large amounts of asbestos that has been detected numerous times over the years.