diff --git a/vpr/main.ui b/vpr/main.ui
index cf856fe..5b9d651 100644
--- a/vpr/main.ui
+++ b/vpr/main.ui
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<!-- Generated with glade 3.16.1 -->
+<!-- Generated with glade 3.22.1 -->
 <interface>
   <requires lib="gtk+" version="3.0"/>
   <object class="GtkWindow" id="MainWindow">
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
     <property name="default_width">800</property>
     <property name="default_height">600</property>
     <child>
+      <placeholder/>
+    </child>
+    <child>
       <object class="GtkGrid" id="OuterGrid">
         <property name="visible">True</property>
         <property name="can_focus">False</property>
@@ -22,7 +25,7 @@
           <packing>
             <property name="left_attach">0</property>
             <property name="top_attach">1</property>
-            <property name="width">7</property>
+            <property name="width">4</property>
             <property name="height">3</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
@@ -39,102 +42,25 @@
               </object>
               <packing>
                 <property name="left_attach">0</property>
-                <property name="top_attach">0</property>
-                <property name="width">2</property>
-                <property name="height">1</property>
+                <property name="top_attach">1</property>
               </packing>
             </child>
             <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
-            </child>
-            <child>
-              <placeholder/>
+              <object class="GtkButton" id="ZoomFitButton">
+                <property name="label" translatable="yes">Zoom Fit</property>
+                <property name="visible">True</property>
+                <property name="can_focus">True</property>
+                <property name="receives_default">True</property>
+              </object>
+              <packing>
+                <property name="left_attach">0</property>
+                <property name="top_attach">0</property>
+              </packing>
             </child>
           </object>
           <packing>
-            <property name="left_attach">7</property>
+            <property name="left_attach">4</property>
             <property name="top_attach">1</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
-          </packing>
-        </child>
-        <child>
-          <object class="GtkButton" id="ZoomFitButton">
-            <property name="label">gtk-zoom-fit</property>
-            <property name="use_action_appearance">False</property>
-            <property name="visible">True</property>
-            <property name="can_focus">True</property>
-            <property name="receives_default">True</property>
-            <property name="use_stock">True</property>
-          </object>
-          <packing>
-            <property name="left_attach">7</property>
-            <property name="top_attach">0</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
         <child>
@@ -146,8 +72,7 @@
           <packing>
             <property name="left_attach">0</property>
             <property name="top_attach">4</property>
-            <property name="width">7</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
+            <property name="width">4</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
         <child>
@@ -159,8 +84,6 @@
           <packing>
             <property name="left_attach">0</property>
             <property name="top_attach">0</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
         <child>
@@ -168,19 +91,17 @@
             <property name="visible">True</property>
             <property name="can_focus">True</property>
             <property name="tooltip_text" translatable="yes">search</property>
-            <property name="halign">start</property>
             <property name="primary_icon_stock">gtk-find</property>
             <property name="placeholder_text" translatable="yes">Search...</property>
           </object>
           <packing>
             <property name="left_attach">1</property>
             <property name="top_attach">0</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
         <child>
           <object class="GtkButton" id="Search">
+            <property name="label" translatable="yes">Search</property>
             <property name="visible">True</property>
             <property name="can_focus">True</property>
             <property name="receives_default">True</property>
@@ -188,40 +109,55 @@
           <packing>
             <property name="left_attach">2</property>
             <property name="top_attach">0</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
         <child>
-          <object class="GtkButton" id="SaveGraphics">
-            <property name="label">gtk-save</property>
+          <object class="GtkGrid" id="ControlGrid">
             <property name="visible">True</property>
-            <property name="can_focus">True</property>
-            <property name="receives_default">True</property>
-            <property name="use_stock">True</property>
+            <property name="can_focus">False</property>
+            <child>
+              <object class="GtkButton" id="ProceedButton">
+                <property name="label" translatable="yes">Proceed</property>
+                <property name="visible">True</property>
+                <property name="can_focus">True</property>
+                <property name="receives_default">True</property>
+                <property name="image_position">right</property>
+              </object>
+              <packing>
+                <property name="left_attach">0</property>
+                <property name="top_attach">2</property>
+              </packing>
+            </child>
+            <child>
+              <object class="GtkButton" id="SaveGraphics">
+                <property name="label" translatable="yes">Save</property>
+                <property name="visible">True</property>
+                <property name="can_focus">True</property>
+                <property name="receives_default">True</property>
+                <property name="image_position">right</property>
+              </object>
+              <packing>
+                <property name="left_attach">0</property>
+                <property name="top_attach">0</property>
+              </packing>
+            </child>
+            <child>
+              <object class="GtkButton" id="PauseButton">
+                <property name="label" translatable="yes">Pause</property>
+                <property name="visible">True</property>
+                <property name="can_focus">True</property>
+                <property name="receives_default">True</property>
+                <property name="image_position">right</property>
+              </object>
+              <packing>
+                <property name="left_attach">0</property>
+                <property name="top_attach">1</property>
+              </packing>
+            </child>
           </object>
           <packing>
-            <property name="left_attach">7</property>
-            <property name="top_attach">2</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
-          </packing>
-        </child>
-        <child>
-          <object class="GtkButton" id="ProceedButton">
-            <property name="label">Proceed</property>
-            <property name="use_action_appearance">False</property>
-            <property name="visible">True</property>
-            <property name="can_focus">True</property>
-            <property name="receives_default">True</property>
-            <property name="use_stock">True</property>
-            <property name="image_position">right</property>
-          </object>
-          <packing>
-            <property name="left_attach">7</property>
+            <property name="left_attach">4</property>
             <property name="top_attach">3</property>
-            <property name="width">1</property>
-            <property name="height">1</property>
           </packing>
         </child>
         <child>
@@ -236,9 +172,6 @@
         <child>
           <placeholder/>
         </child>
-        <child>
-          <placeholder/>
-        </child>
       </object>
     </child>
   </object>
diff --git a/vpr/src/draw/draw.cpp b/vpr/src/draw/draw.cpp
index 2430c8b..1e09950 100644
--- a/vpr/src/draw/draw.cpp
+++ b/vpr/src/draw/draw.cpp
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@
 void initial_setup_NO_PICTURE_to_ROUTING_with_crit_path(ezgl::application* app, bool is_new_window);
 void toggle_window_mode(GtkWidget* /*widget*/, ezgl::application* /*app*/);
 void setup_default_ezgl_callbacks(ezgl::application* app);
+void set_force_pause(GtkWidget* /*widget*/, gint /*response_id*/, gpointer /*data*/);
 
 /************************** File Scope Variables ****************************/
 
@@ -278,7 +279,9 @@
 /* function below intializes the interface window with a set of buttons and links 
  * signals to corresponding functions for situation where the window is opened from 
  * NO_PICTURE_to_PLACEMENT */
-void initial_setup_NO_PICTURE_to_PLACEMENT(ezgl::application* app, bool /*is_new_window*/) {
+void initial_setup_NO_PICTURE_to_PLACEMENT(ezgl::application* app, bool is_new_window) {
+    if (!is_new_window) return;
+
     //button to enter window_mode, created in main.ui
     GtkButton* window = (GtkButton*)app->get_object("Window");
     gtk_button_set_label(window, "Window");
@@ -352,7 +355,9 @@
 /* function below intializes the interface window with a set of buttons and links 
  * signals to corresponding functions for situation where the window is opened from 
  * NO_PICTURE_to_ROUTING */
-void initial_setup_NO_PICTURE_to_ROUTING(ezgl::application* app, bool /*is_new_window*/) {
+void initial_setup_NO_PICTURE_to_ROUTING(ezgl::application* app, bool is_new_window) {
+    if (!is_new_window) return;
+
     GtkButton* window = (GtkButton*)app->get_object("Window");
     gtk_button_set_label(window, "Window");
     g_signal_connect(window, "clicked", G_CALLBACK(toggle_window_mode), app);
@@ -407,11 +412,10 @@
         ezgl::set_disable_event_loop(false);
 
     //Has the user asked us to pause at the next screen updated?
-    bool forced_pause = g_vpr_ctx.forced_pause();
-    if (int(priority) >= draw_state->gr_automode || forced_pause) {
-        if (forced_pause) {
-            VTR_LOG("Starting interactive graphics (due to user interrupt)\n");
-            g_vpr_ctx.set_forced_pause(false); //Reset pause flag
+    if (int(priority) >= draw_state->gr_automode || draw_state->forced_pause) {
+        if (draw_state->forced_pause) {
+            VTR_LOG("Pausing in interactive graphics (user pressed 'Pause')\n");
+            draw_state->forced_pause = false; //Reset pause flag
         }
         vtr::strncpy(draw_state->default_message, msg, vtr::bufsize);
 
@@ -490,6 +494,9 @@
                     application.run(initial_setup_NO_PICTURE_to_ROUTING, act_on_mouse_press, act_on_mouse_move, act_on_key_press);
                 }
             }
+        } else {
+            //No change (e.g. paused)
+            application.run(nullptr, act_on_mouse_press, act_on_mouse_move, act_on_key_press);
         }
     }
 
@@ -3716,6 +3723,16 @@
     // Connect press_zoom_fit function to the Zoom-fit button
     GObject* zoom_fit_button = app->get_object("ZoomFitButton");
     g_signal_connect(zoom_fit_button, "clicked", G_CALLBACK(ezgl::press_zoom_fit), app);
+
+    // Connect Pause button
+    GObject* pause_button = app->get_object("PauseButton");
+    g_signal_connect(pause_button, "clicked", G_CALLBACK(set_force_pause), app);
+}
+
+void set_force_pause(GtkWidget* /*widget*/, gint /*response_id*/, gpointer /*data*/) {
+    t_draw_state* draw_state = get_draw_state_vars();
+
+    draw_state->forced_pause = true;
 }
 
 #endif /* NO_GRAPHICS */
diff --git a/vpr/src/draw/draw_types.h b/vpr/src/draw/draw_types.h
index 522c63d..f6e507a 100644
--- a/vpr/src/draw/draw_types.h
+++ b/vpr/src/draw/draw_types.h
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@
     const t_arch* arch_info = nullptr;
     std::unique_ptr<const vtr::ColorMap> color_map = nullptr;
     bool save_graphics = false;
+    bool forced_pause = false;
 
     t_draw_state() = default;