The Baker School

The Baker School A historic Hyde Park landmark turned event space, creative offices & community hub.

We are honored to be featured in Tribeza’s recent article, “The Remarkable Reinvention of Hyde Park’s Historic Baker Sch...
09/01/2025

We are honored to be featured in Tribeza’s recent article, “The Remarkable Reinvention of Hyde Park’s Historic Baker School.” Thank you to Tribeza for shining a spotlight on our story!

Sincere thanks to Heidi Okla and Analise Pickerrell for their stunning photography in the two photos we used for this post.



Restoration of The Baker school has been made possible in part by a Heritage Preservation Grant from the City of Austin.

Before the Baker School, Karrie and Tim League were already deeply committed to saving historic spaces.They bought the C...
08/20/2025

Before the Baker School, Karrie and Tim League were already deeply committed to saving historic spaces.

They bought the Carrington Bluff House (built 1887) to keep it from becoming a fraternity house, and their own home, the Goff Radkey House was built in 1914.

In downtown Austin, they remodeled the Ritz Theater on 6th Street into an Alamo Drafthouse location, and in San Francisco, they brought the Mission Theater back to life after decades of abandonment and vandalism.

Tim also served for years on the board of Preservation Austin, advocating for the city’s heritage.

It’s no surprise that when the Baker School came onto the market, it called to them.



The Hidden Layers of BakerWhen Karrie and Tim League took on the restoration of Baker School, they weren’t just saving a...
08/05/2025

The Hidden Layers of Baker

When Karrie and Tim League took on the restoration of Baker School, they weren’t just saving a building they were peeling back time.

What they uncovered beneath the drop ceilings, vinyl floors, and decades of institutional wear was nothing short of remarkable: original wood floors, high ceilings, molded blackboards, and rich wood wainscoting that had been hidden for years.

Each room revealed a new surprise, a glimpse into the craftsmanship of a bygone era.

Restoration wasn’t just about looks. It was about respect. Every decision was made with care: to preserve the past, meet modern standards, and create a space where creativity and community could thrive again.

We like to think Baker never lost its soul, it was just waiting for the right hands to bring it back to life.

Stay tuned as we continue sharing stories from the restoration.



We are starting a short series about the Baker School. We want to share its history, its restoration and the people who ...
07/31/2025

We are starting a short series about the Baker School. We want to share its history, its restoration and the people who saw its potential.

Tim and Karrie League founded the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in 1997. After years of success and expansion, they were looking for a headquarters that could accommodate the future growth of the business.

The Baker School came onto the market at about that time.

“Originally, it was a K-12 schoolhouse for all of Hyde Park, and through the years successively passed through stages as a middle school, then a high school, and finally an office for AISD.”

AISD put it up for public bid in 2017.

“We believe that it was because they were the only bidders who wanted to keep and restore the building rather than demolish it that they were awarded the contract.”

The Baker School had always served a purpose. Karrie and Tim made sure it would again.



We are so excited here at the Baker School because we are embarking on a massive replacement of the windows in the old 1...
07/18/2025

We are so excited here at the Baker School because we are embarking on a massive replacement of the windows in the old 1920’s original part of the building. Back in the 50’s, when the large addition containing the gyms and cafeteria and library was added, they also replaced all the windows with contemporary aluminum framed windows, which are what we currently have.

Thanks to , one of our tenants who have been SO helpful with all things historically architectural, we obtained a grant from the City of Austin Economic Development Department to replace those aluminum windows with historically accurate divided pane wood windows that are exactly like what was originally there. (Except that they are double paned and energy efficient!)

Upon removing the aluminum windows, we found the original wooden molding to be intact and in need only a fresh coat of paint. Our color scheme is going back to the original green!



Introducing The Baker Four 🎶This inspiring quartet made up of three passionate students and one incredible teaching arti...
07/13/2025

Introducing The Baker Four 🎶

This inspiring quartet made up of three passionate students and one incredible teaching artist formed out of their shared love for guitar and a space that sparked creativity: Baker School.

From rehearsals to performances, they’re bringing something truly special to life.

🎸 Read their story linked in our stories & highlighted in our ACG highlight.



Our resident bunnies here at Baker School. Have you seen them on our property? We love them!
06/27/2025

Our resident bunnies here at Baker School. Have you seen them on our property? We love them!



This historic Hyde Park landmark has quietly become one of the most creative corners of Austin. Once a neighborhood scho...
06/25/2025

This historic Hyde Park landmark has quietly become one of the most creative corners of Austin. Once a neighborhood school, it’s now a home for nonprofits, artists, filmmakers, designers, and storytellers each bringing something different to the mix.

Walk the halls and you’ll find studios filled with ideas, archives preserving the past, conversations about the future, and a quiet kind of energy that only comes from people doing meaningful work.

The building holds its history but it also holds space for what’s next.

We’re thrilled and honored to be named a 2025 Best of Austin Award winner!“The old Baker School has been one of Hyde Pa...
06/24/2025

We’re thrilled and honored to be named a 2025 Best of Austin Award winner!

“The old Baker School has been one of Hyde Park’s true architectural gems since it was built in 1911, but for the longest time no one really knew what to do with it. When Austin ISD sold it in 2018 to Alamo Drafthouse founders Tim and Karrie League, they finally gave it the purpose it deserved, and got it onto the National Register of Historic Places in the process. The former campus and teacher training facility now hosts arts groups, nonprofits, and businesses that would otherwise struggle to find a home for reasonable rent, building a community in the process.”

The Baker School is a grand old building that anchors the wonderful Hyde Park neighborhood. While the structure endures,...
06/24/2025

The Baker School is a grand old building that anchors the wonderful Hyde Park neighborhood. While the structure endures, unchanged over its 100+ year life, the building is ever changing and evolving, from school to AISD offices and now a home for over 2 dozen creative businesses and non-profits.

It is a place for community, both within the building and in the neighborhood, to enjoy concerts, events and coffee! Follow us to learn more about us! More coming soon!

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3908 Avenue B
Austin, TX
78751

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