Before-and-after images show how an abandoned Kmart was transformed into a high school

For years, the Kmart in the Chicago suburb of Waukegan, Illinois sat abandoned, except for squatters who had moved in.

But now, high school students fill its halls, library, and cafeteria - once store aisles and space for checkout lines.

The former Kmart is the new home for Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, which was recently redesigned by the local design firm JGMA. The team of architects transformed the dingy store into a bright facility, complete with all the amenities of a modern high school.

Business Insider spoke with Juan Moreno, the founder and president of JGMA, about the project. Take a look below.