The Lester Institute of Technical Education was built in 1934. The former site of the school was later used by the Seamen's Hospital and had been vacant for a long time before this renovation.

Since 2021, the restoration project of the former site of Lester Institute of Technical Education was launched. In the project, it completed the continuation of historical style and architectural heritage by relying on he preservation and restoration of the main building of the former Lester Institute of Technical Education, its interior decoration and environmental enhancement. The historical appearance of the building is restored; the functional needs of contemporary schooling are combined with the optimization of electromechanical equipment and environment to enhance the usage performance of the building.

After the project is delivered, the place will used as Design Innovation Institute Shanghai, which focus on design and innovation industries.