[2] The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is now owned by the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

The 3½-story building was designed by Charles D. Crane and Carl C. Barkhausen, the latter was himself an alumnus of the German-English Academy.

To the right of the entrance is the south wing's attached neo-Gothic pavilion (slightly protruding block), which is topped by a prominent gable end with three arched windows.

Many of the founders were Forty-Eighters, progressives who had left Germany after the German revolutions of 1848–49 failed.

[2] Designs on the gymnasium's terra cotta spandrels depict Indian clubs, foils, and other Turner athletic equipment.

[2] The new building allowed study of manual arts for boys, domestic science for girls, and phy-ed for both.

"[2] During WWI, amidst suspicion of all things German, the German-English Academy changed its name to the Milwaukee University School.