70 years of creation: how the National Centre RUSSIA brings construction professionals together
Builders rarely talk about themselves. They are used to having their work judged not by words, but by the results of their labour — comfortable, durable buildings, solid bridges, convenient road junctions and entire cities that remain with us for decades. But there is one special day each year when the whole country celebrates construction professionals. Builder's Day has been marked in Russia annually for 70 years. The National Centre RUSSIA celebrates the occasion as a space that has repeatedly honoured builders and hosted discussions on the industry's key issues, from preserving the traditions of Russian wooden architecture to building the future.
Builder's Day was established in 1956 on the initiative of Nikita Khrushchev, who was impressed by the scale of construction of the Zhiguli Hydroelectric Power Station. At the time, the country was undergoing a major industrial expansion, and the work of builders acquired a special, almost heroic status. Today, around 13 million people are employed in construction and related industries, which together account for more than 20% of GDP. The new generation of professionals faces equally ambitious tasks: by 2030, for example, at least 120 million square metres of housing must be commissioned, along with a significant number of socially important facilities.
The National Centre RUSSIA has long been a place where industry professionals meet, exchange ideas and practices, work together to find solutions and align their vision for the future of construction. Back in 2024, the International RUSSIA EXPO hosted a large-scale Construction and Housing and Utilities Day. More recently, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the forum "Architectural Code of Russia: From Historical Identity to Building National Pride". The event brought together leading architects, urban planners, developers and government representatives and became a platform for developing ideas that will shape the cities of tomorrow. The first National Centre RUSSIA National Award in Architecture and Urban Planning was also presented at the forum.
The country's major construction achievements — from Moscow transport projects to unique facilities in its most remote regions — can now be seen at the permanent "Journey Across Russia" exposition. The new building of the National Centre RUSSIA in Moscow will become a pinnacle of construction and architectural excellence. Scheduled to open in 2029 in the very heart of the capital, it will be more than just a new landmark on the city map: it will embody what the Russian school of construction can achieve when true professionals take on the task.
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The Literary Club "What to Read?!" is an original project of the National Centre RUSSIA.
