The building was constructed as one of the institutions of the Educational House for "impoverished nobles and commoners" and became one of the first women's educational establishments in Moscow. Its strict classical architecture and significant size are characteristic of public buildings of mature classicism. Ivan (Giovanni) Zhilyardi, who held the position of architect of the Educational House, is known as an experienced practitioner. He was involved in the reconstruction of the Widow's House, built the Mariinsky Hospital according to D. Quarenghi's design, and erected some service buildings in the Educational House. The Alexandrovsky Institute became the only fully realized project of the architect.

The solemn opening of the school took place on August 30, 1805. Under Alexander III, in 1892, it received the status of an institute. The grounds for admission to the institute could be various circumstances: orphanhood, the death of a father, and the family's difficult financial situation. According to the charter, initially, the school could accept the daughters of officers from military, civil, and court service who could not study at the Catherine Institute; townspeople registered in the guilds of any city; clergymen; medical professionals and doctors without staff officer ranks; teachers and artists.

Gradually, the circle of individuals eligible for education expanded. By 1898, the admission rules provided for the possibility of enrolling children of individuals from colonels and collegiate councilors to staff captains and titular councilors, as well as archpriests, priests, and evangelical pastors, at state expense. All places were distributed among full orphans, half-orphans, and non-orphans. In addition to state students, pensioners were admitted to the institute if there were available spots, with tuition fees.

The number of students constantly increased; if the first intake consisted of 80-90 students, by 1850 there were 150 state students and 70 pensioners, and by 1917, 158 girls were studying at the institute: 84 free, 40 state scholarship holders, 11 military department scholarship holders, 3 free Georgievsky scholarship holders, and 8 externs (relatives of impoverished officials). The girls admitted to the institute were divided into two classes: the senior class, aged 13-14, and the junior class, aged 11-12.

After three years, the juniors were transferred to the senior classes. Among those who graduated and distinguished themselves, five, later three students were retained for training as class ladies in a special kindergarten class. Graduates of this class taught in gymnasiums and two-class schools. In addition to pedagogy, there was a special class of 1812 for a long time, teaching French literature, history, geography, mythology, and physics.

The administrative and teaching staff of the Alexandrovsky Institute consisted of an inspector, later a headmistress, her assistant, class ladies, a class inspector, teachers, junior class teachers, and support staff (at the church, office, infirmary, "economy," and police). At different times, class inspectors included, for example, professors from Moscow University L. A. Tsvetaev and M. M. Katkov. French literature was taught by F. Kurtenier.

From 1898 to 1914, the educational part was overseen by honorary guardian A. A. Pushkin. Initially, the school was located in the former house of A. I. Glebov (since 1803, the Medical Office building) near Kudrinskaya Square, and from 1812, in a building on Novaya Bozhedomskaya Street, built by I. D. Zhilyardi in 1809-1811 for the "Widow's House."