Barat College began as an academy for young women in Chicago in 1858 and moved to its Lake Forest location in 1904.

To qualify for federal financial programs, governance of the college passed from the Society of the Sacred Heart to an independent board of trustees in 1969.

Through its wholly owned Illinois subsidiary, they acquired a substantial portion of the educational business of Barat College, including the library materials, regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and permits and other authorizations from governmental authorities, education agencies, or other third parties.

However, the 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) Thabor Wing, which was added to the building in 1924 and contained the Italianate style Sacred Heart Chapel, was to be demolished.

[8] Shaw's development plans met resistance from a number of factions who favored building preservation, including the advocacy group Landmarks Illinois, which placed the property's Sacred Heart Chapel on the list of Illinois' Top 10 Endangered Places.

[9] On December 12, 2012, the birthday of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, who founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1800, the property transfer was completed.

[2] The Society of the Sacred Heart moved away from managing women's colleges in the 1970s to focus on K-12 education.