Buena Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings

Barry Byrne, architect; 1922; 1955 and 1956

— Chicago Landmark —

Immaculata High School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

1. Immaculata High School Marker

Inscription. Barry Byrne began his architectural career with Frank Lloyd Wright. Using Wright's teachings as the basis for developing a personal style, Byrne set new precedents in modern ecclesiastical architecture, creating original expressions in a genre usually associated with historic forms and long-established traditions.

Designated a Chicago Landmark on July 27, 1983 by the City Council of Chicago.
Harold Washington, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 41° 57.294′ N, 87° 38.781′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Buena Park. It is on Irving Park Road (Illinois Route 19) 0.1 miles west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 640 West Irving Park Road, Chicago IL

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60613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pattington (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Waveland Clock Tower (approx. 0.3 miles away); Oscar Wilde (approx. 0.4 miles away); Audre Lorde (approx. 0.4 miles away); James Baldwin (approx. 0.4 miles away); Josephine Baker (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kwanusila (approx. half a mile away); Dra. Antonia Pantoja (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings. Immaculata High School, an all-girls Catholic school, closed in 1981. American Islamic College occupied the building starting in 1983 until moving into a new facility farther north in the city around

Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

2. Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings Marker

2024. A developer currently plans to convert the building into residential apartments.

Also see . . .
1. The History of Immaculata High School. (Submitted on November 21, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Immaculata High School (Chicago). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on June 3, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Prairie Styles website: Barry Byrne.

Excerpt: "Francis Barry Byrne was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 19, 1883, the son of a blacksmith. At age 14, to help support his family after his father’s death, he left school and began working in the mail room of Montgomery Ward in Chicago. In 1902, after being impressed by a display of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright at the Chicago Architectural Club, Bryne left his job to become an apprentice in the Oak Park studio of Wright. Having no formal architectural training, he was relegated to working under Wright assistants William Drummond and Walter Burley Griffin. His training continued until 1907, when he was then considered a member of the studio. While at the studio he helped execute drawings for the Tomek, Beachey and
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

3. Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings Marker
Coonley houses and also for Unity Temple."

(Submitted on November 21, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

4. Plans To Redevelop Uptown’s Islamic College Move Forward — Without Proposed Senior Living Tower. An August 2026 article from Block Club Chicago with an update on plans to convert the building, which was most recently and Islamic college, into apartments. (Submitted on August 25, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Immaculata High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

4. Immaculata High School

A statue of Mary used to be above the entrance; it was removed after Immaculata closed in 1981.

Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), circa 1964

5. Immaculata High School and Convent Buildings

The statue of Mary above the entrance that can be seen in this photo (likely from the 1960s) was by sculptor Alfonso Iannelli, who frequently collaborated with the building's architect, Barry Byrne. The statue was removed sometime after the school closed in 1981.

Francis Barry Byrne, architect (1883-1967) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-025649)

6. Francis Barry Byrne, architect (1883-1967)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 845 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 21, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 6. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.