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 first few years the house was used as a school for educating
Volksschule teachers. The building housed the
principal's residence, classrooms, an
auditorium and the gym. The building was surrounded by a small park. 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. The large auditorium was used as a theater and concert hall. In the 1950s the house was built out towards the east and west. The inside of the house was later renovated several times, most recently in 1999. == The Court of Appeal ==