Historical Information About Our Center

Did you know that Phelps School was designed by a famous St. Louis architect who designed over 500 school buildings throughout Missouri and 25 other states?

William Ittner is known as "The Father of Modern School Architecture." He pioneered the panic door so students could exit quickly in an emergency. One common feature of many of the schools he designed was a picture in tiles above drinking fountains. (see photo)

Ittner said he included fireplaces in his schools to make young children feel at home.

Phelps is built in the Jacobethan Revival style popular in the early 20th century. This style is characterized by the use of masonry with a lighter stone trim around window and door frames, quoins, rounded arches, and other decorative details. This revival style reflected back to Elizabethan architecture in England, making minimal use of classical details.

This is a view of the first floor main hallway.

The Sara Lampe Media Center.

This is the main entrance lobby.

Our wall of famous people.