History

Landmark Living with a
Story-Filled Address

Originally built in 1905 and designated a Chicago landmark, the Graeme Stewart Elementary School was named after Graeme Stewart, a respected businessman and philanthropist in Chicago at the turn of the century. Most notably, Stewart served as the president of the school board; was a confidant of President McKinley; was responsible for Illinois being awarded the U.S. Navy’s Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes facility; and ran for mayor against Carter Harrison in 1903.

The Stewart School opened at a time when Uptown was experiencing tremendous growth. The Northwestern Elevated train line (now the Red Line) had recently extended north to the neighborhood and the silent film industry, which was headquartered in Uptown, was Chicago’s most glamorous scene. Built to accommodate this rising population, the Stewart School was designed by famed architect Dwight Perkins, who served as the architect for the Chicago Board of Education from 1905–1910. Perkins was considered an innovator, infusing his desire to better serve children by providing bright and sunny classrooms, social space, amenities, and programming into the traditional classroom mix.

Shortly after the school opened, the train expanded farther north to Evanston from Wilson Avenue, which continued to attract more people and development to the area. Within 10 years of opening, the Stewart School was at capacity, and demand for enrollment was increasing. As a result, in 1940, an addition was completed to accommodate more students. The school was home to students for more than 100 years, including actor Harrison Ford and director William Friedkin, before closing in 2013 due to low enrollment.

The revitalization of the Stewart School began in 2016 when Morningside purchased the school through the Chicago Public School’s Building Re-purposing and Sale Program, with plans to revitalize the school to its former splendor and convert the interior space into modern apartments rich with historic details.

Now renamed Stewart School Lofts, the building features a roof deck with views of Lake Michigan, heated indoor parking, elevator access, and bike storage. While most apartments were formerly classrooms, some were home to the school principal’s office, the gymnasium, and the two-story auditorium, making every floor plan unique.

Each unit has a different blend of restored original historic details, such as wood trim, hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, chalkboards, and original doors. Every home also includes features that the modern resident desires — elegant bathrooms, gourmet kitchens with quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances, in-unit washer and dryer, and some units even offer private balconies. Formerly unused attic space, the fifth floor of Stewart School Lofts has become home to some of the property’s most unique apartments, featuring soaring mansard clay tile ceilings, skylights, and oversize patios with lake views.