The Memorial Union was designed in 1922 by W.T. Proudfoot of the Des Moines firm of Proudfoot, Rawson & Souers, which was the designated design firm for the Iowa Board of Education, now called the Board of Regents.

The Memorial Union was one of the many buildings designed by Proudfoot's firm for Iowa educational institutions, and it is not the only Proudfoot building at Iowa State University.

The classic style architecture of the Memorial Union reflects the Greek and Roman influences employed by many architects, not only in America, but throughout the western world. Columns with Corinthian capitals, Paladian windows, triangular pediments, and formally balanced facades are a few noteworthy details denoting the classic style.

In keeping with the careful plan for the central campus area, the Memorial Union on the south complimented the style and materials used in Beardshear Hall to the west, MacKay Hall to the north and Curtiss Hall to the east.