The hall has four floors, with a study area on each floor. The lowest level features a kitchen, pool and foosball tables, ping pong, laundry room and a T.V.

Mathews has three living-learning communities; engineering, pre-health professionals and Oyate Yuwitaya Tipi. Students that are a part of the living-learning communities have access to special programs and computers within the hall.

Mathews Hall was named after Hubert B. Mathews, (1892), a former physics department head, dean of engineering and the first secretary of the Alumni Association from Willow Lake, South Dakota. As a student, he was a member of the first SDSU football team to play the University of South Dakota, and was the first King of the Hobos. He returned to SDSU as a physics and chemistry instructor and is credited with organizing the electrical engineering department and engineering division. He served as the vice president and acting president in 1905-1906 and was also a mayor of Brookings.