Built by Scottish architect James S Gibson (1864 – 1951) with Skipwith and Gordon, and sculptures by Henry Fehr, the building is situated opposite the Houses of Parliament and flanked by the Treasury and Westminster Abbey.  Gibson demonstrated a modern approach to his design by “keeping it quite distinct in scale and style so as to preserve its own individuality.”

Construction took place from 1906 to 1913, as one of a number of significant buildings constructed in the area at the early 1900’s, including the Government Offices in Great George St (now HM Treasury), the Methodist Central Hall, the Head Quarters of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and the Institute of Civil Engineers.