When East Handley Elementary opened, it had 16 regular classrooms, a kindergarten room, an art room and library. The architect was Olin Boese and Associates and Bill Cadenhead was the contractor. The International-influenced design is enlivened with a variety of exterior materials, including orange and yellow brick for the main body of the building with green glazed brick used on the west elevation of the auditorium wing. Exposed aggregate panels are used below the windows and earth-toned ceramic tile is used on the wall around the main entrance. The auditorium and middle wings are 1-story and the north wing is 2-story. The upper portion of most windows have been infilled with wood panels. The building received an addition of nine classrooms and other facilities in the summer of 2003. With the attainment of 50 years of age and reassessment of its integrity following completion of the proposed addition, East Handley Elementary is potentially eligible for the National Register in the fields of architecture and education.