"Here I felt that the light in the rooms strcutured in concrete will have the luminosity of silver" - Kahn

The structure is composed of a series of cycloid vaults that form long interior galleries interspersed with open-air courts (see space). These vaults are one of the most ingenious part of the design, and are architecturally and technologically advanced.

Down the length of each vault runs a narrow slit through which direct sunlight enters the building. A reflecting device consisting of a double-curve of perforated metal, installed in 10-foot lengths below the slit, spreads the natural light evenly over the sides of the vault so that it washed down the walls into the room, creating a silvery shimmery effect that Kahn wanted. This device also filters out rays that would otherwise be harmful to the works of art on display. According to Kahn, the different moods that daylight brings is hence reflected into the building, breathing new life into the artworks.