The building is designed to fit into the masonry vernacular of the existing building stock on Roosevelt Island, while also being forward looking to reflect the newer architecture of the Cornell Tech campus nearby. Riverwalk 8 includes 266 units, many of which have great views of Manhattan.

​

The design features a tight grid of square windows and glass corners that are wedged in between a mix of light- and dark-colored bricks. The massing is simple and rises straight up from the L-shaped floor plate to the roof parapet. The entire superstructure is being made with reinforced concrete.