Chicago’s Historic Schools: Lessons from Architect Dwight Perkins

Public schools are often overlooked in architectural discussions, yet they play a vital role in community identity. In Chicago, schools built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly those designed by Dwight Perkins, exemplify distinctive architectural principles that still resonate today. As the new school year begins, reflections on Perkins’s contributions highlight the significance of thoughtful school design.

Between 1905 and 1910, Perkins served as the chief architect for Chicago’s public schools, creating over 40 schools that embody the ideals of a free public education. The Carl Schurz High School, located at 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave., stands out as a landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other notable schools include Harper High School at 6520 S. Wood St. and the former Trumbull Elementary at 5200 N. Ashland Ave., along with Bowen High School at 2710 E. 89th St..

Eleanor Gorski, President and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center, noted that Perkins’s designs were a synthesis of the Progressive Movement and Prairie School ideals. “He was able to wrap all of these movements together in a dramatic, beautiful architectural package,” Gorski said. The result was a departure from the neo-Gothic and Greek Revival styles that dominated educational architecture at the time.

Perkins’s schools featured vibrant brick and terra cotta facades, often drawing on influences that resembled Mayan and Egyptian architecture. For example, Harper High School and the George W. Tilton Elementary School at 221 N. Keebler Ave. showcase this distinctive detailing. Other schools, like Schurz and Bowen, exemplify Prairie School characteristics with elements such as exposed brick piers, broad overhanging roofs, and horizontal windows.

Open spaces surrounding these schools were another hallmark of Perkins’s work. At Schurz, the building occupies a triangular eight-acre site, allowing for ample outdoor areas for students and the community. Gorski emphasized the visual impact of these structures, stating, “You go in any neighborhood where his school buildings are, they stand out — in a city with tons of famous architects.”

Despite his success, Perkins’s tenure was cut short when he was dismissed from his position amid allegations of incompetence and insubordination. The charges were later reduced to insubordination, but it is widely believed that conflicts with school board members, who had ties to the cut-stone industry, played a significant role in his firing. Perkins’s son, Lawrence Perkins, an architect himself, recalled, “He specified terra cotta or brick for his designs… and they didn’t like it one damn bit.”

Following his departure from the school system, Perkins achieved further success with his firm, Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton, designing notable structures such as the Lincoln Park Zoo Lion House and Cafe Brauer. His later work with Perkins, Chatten & Hammond included the Northwest Tower, now known as The Robey, a striking Art Deco skyscraper.

The Chicago History Museum has recently sought to shine a spotlight on Perkins’s architectural legacy. Rebekah Coffman, Curator of Religion and Community History, mentioned that an e-blast focusing on Perkins’s work was part of a larger effort to highlight the museum’s architectural holdings. “We’re thinking about collections in different ways, and it just seems like a good kickoff to the school year,” she stated.

The museum houses a wealth of materials related to Perkins, including drawings, pamphlets, and photographs, which may contribute to a planned exhibit in 2027. With such a rich archive, there is much to explore about the impact of Perkins’s designs on education and community identity in Chicago.

As the new academic year gets underway, the enduring influence of Perkins’s schools serves as a reminder of the critical role that thoughtful architecture plays in shaping educational environments.