Many of the greatest buildings of the nineteenth century fell into sad state of neglect during the late twentieth century. What had often been the greatest building in a neighborhood, particularly in the case of noble schools built to enlighten new immigrant masses, had all too often become hulking eyesores.

TPS 166M was erected in 1898 according to the design of C.B.J. Snyder in a “Collegiate” Gothic Style. The five story building is vertically composed of beige limestone base on granite water table, light beige terra cotta on three façades, and red brick on the back elevation. The building has elaborate ornamental gables and red tile roofing, cast terra cotta string courses and cornices running around three sides of the building and deeply molded window headers on the upper floors.

Extensive deterioration of the exterior, including extensive rusting of the original steel framing , required a complete exterior modernization, including substantial rebuilding of the exterior terracotta façade and roof as well as modification to the steel frame. The following improvements were undertaken

• Nw terracotta blocks and special moldings were fabricated for extensive façade rebuilding
• Existing steel frame and wrought iron bracing members were rebuilt or replaced
• New granite water table blocks were quarried
• New historically accurate mahogany windows replaced throughout
• New terracotta roof tiles were fabricated and installed with copper flashing details
• Rebuilding of the rear play yard to prevent water infiltration
• Extensive re-bricking was carried out on the entire façade

The entire project was submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for approval and all renovation work was carried out according to SHPO procedures.