The large white building, built in 1886–1887 and one of the oldest in the city, was designed in a neo-Renaissance style by the architect Johan Nordquist.

Because it was not made of wood it was one of the few buildings to survive the Umeå city fire of 1888.

The building housed the principal's residence, classrooms, an auditorium and the gym.

[1] In the 1920s the building was no longer used as a school and during some subsequent years it served as Civic Center with both a library and a museum.

[1] On December 16, 1936 king Gustaf V inaugurated the Court of Appeal for Northern Norrland.