Anthony Overton Elementary School, Mid-century modern school building in Grand Boulevard, Chicago.
Anthony Overton Elementary School is a three-story educational building in Grand Boulevard, Chicago, designed with mid-century modern architecture. The structure features large corner windows, yellow brick facades, and glass hallways that connect different sections of the building.
The building was constructed in 1963 by architects Perkins & Will and served students from Robert Taylor Homes until it closed in 2013. The closure occurred during a reorganization period in Chicago's school system.
The building honors Anthony Overton, a Black entrepreneur who founded the Chicago Bee newspaper, connecting the school to the neighborhood's identity. Families in the area viewed this place as a gathering point for learning and community life.
The building is located at 221 East 49th Street and is accessible by public transportation, as it sits in an established neighborhood area. Visitors should note that the site is currently undergoing transformation into a community arts center, so access may be limited.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 for being a prototype school that departed from traditional institutional architecture. This recognition highlights how the design thinking of Perkins & Will shaped modern school buildings.
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