Federation Tower is designed as part of a larger complex, Federation Towers, rises along with the shorter Zapad Tower from a shared nine-story podium. The two buildings mirror each other in design, with softly sloping exteriors that narrow as they rise, though Vostok Tower is 131 meters taller than its counterpart. The towers form two rounded equilateral triangles in plan with sides that bow outward. A 506-meter spire was originally planned to rise out of the podium in the center of the complex, but was dismantled in 2015 after it had been partially constructed.

The building utilizes a concrete core and is the first in Russia to utilize super high-strength, high-performance concrete. In addition, three levels of steel outrigger truss systems work to strengthen the building by distributing gravity and wind loads between the core and perimeter framing. The tower has a straightforward façade; a hanging glass curtain wall provides the main external ornamentation for the structure. Horizontal stripes delineating the building’s individual floors work to augment the building’s perceived girth. The rotund configuration of the tower is underplayed by the podium, which meets the street with a rectilinear extension that caters to the human scale for pedestrians. Like many buildings of this size, underground linkages enhance how the building connects with the surrounding urban environment. Several levels below ground, the complex ties in with the Moscow Metro and a large shopping center. Eventually, all of Moscow City is to be connected below grade, creating a truly “underground city.”