In the early 1970s, Yugoslav authorities planned to transform Kumrovec, the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito, into a major centre for political education and youth activities. Following a 1972 design competition, Croatian architects Berislav Šerbetić and Ivan Filipčić were selected to design the complex.

Constructed in 1973–1974 by Interinžinering, the building was conceived as a multifunctional cultural and educational center. Its pyramidal form was integrated into the landscape by reshaping the hill on which it stands. Officially opened on November 29, 1974, as the Spomen-Dom boraca NOR-a i omladine Jugoslavije, the project received the prestigious Borba Award for its architectural achievement.