The building was erected in the mid-1930s by the Construction Workers’ Organization (later Solel Boneh) at the invitation of the British Army. The intention was to hand over the building to Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini, instead of the British-captured Schneller camp. Following the great Arab uprising of 1936–1939, the British returned with their first intention and designated the place for an officers’ school.
In early March 1948, the British evacuated the building and Hassan Salameh entered it with his fighters and established his headquarters there.