The Basilica Nova, also known as the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, is notable for its use of groin vaults, which are intersecting vaults that create a spacious and luminous interior. A significant feature of this basilica is its clerestory, a row of windows above the main arches that allows natural light to penetrate the building, enhancing the grand scale of the interior space. The clerestory successfully complements the groin vaults, providing illumination while also contributing to the overall structural integrity of the architecture.
While other features like coffered domes, compound columns, and triumphal arches are found in various examples of Roman architecture, they do not specifically characterize the Basilica Nova to the same extent as the clerestory above groin vaults. The design of the Basilica Nova exemplifies Roman innovations in architecture, particularly in how light and space were skillfully manipulated to create a dramatic effect within large public buildings.