For much of the 20th century, it was the engine that powered one of nation's most massive retail operations. By the beginning of the 21st century, the historic building was no longer needed to supply energy to what remained of the once bustling Sears, Roebuck and Co. campus on the West Side of Chicago. The original purpose of the Power House, as the facility has been known since it was built in 1905, ended a few years ago when it was decommissioned. The days of dormancy won't last long for the edifice. In 2009, extensive renovations will be completed, and students and teachers will transform the building into the Henry Ford Academy: Power House Charter High School. Educators--especially those operating charter and private schools--searching for spaces suitable to house their schools often turn to facilities that at first glance might seem an odd match for classroom space. As construction costs climb and the availability of traditional sites dwindles, administrators and architects are able to envision education facilities in improbable settings--whether it's an old power plant, a shuttered shoe factory or a vacant shopping mall. The Power House is one example among many in which educators, architects and community members come together to provide critically needed education space, give new life to unwanted or obsolete structures, and stretch the definition of what can be an effective and inspiring learning environment.