Public education is one of the central tasks of a democratic society, and the buildings that house this important task not only shape the way one teaches, but provide icons and symbols for the values people hold common as a society. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this context has placed school buildings squarely in a position of debate and innovation since the nation began, and school buildings continue to be the subject of careful study and debate today. Schools are influenced by political and social movements, new technologies and trends, the growing awareness of what makes one learn better and thus the notions of what makes a great school are constantly shifting and adapting to new ideas. This paper provides a brief history of the past century and a half of school design, focusing particularly on the systems that made schools livable and conducive to learning: lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, and acoustics. (Contains 14 figures.)