In 1970, an architectural competition was announced to design the Engineers’ Retirement Trust building, an office building to accommodate the Engineers’ Retirement Trust and the Engineers’ Association headquarters in Latakia.

The plot designated for the Trust building sat at the intersection of two main roads in Latakia city, in an important governmental and administrative area close to the seaside. The proposed site is bordered by two streets; ‘8th of March’ and ‘Al Yarmouk’ streets to the south and west, with a secondary back street to the east. 

The design program included retail shops and warehouses on the ground floor, along with an inquiry area, Five floors for commercial offices, One or two receding floors to house the Latakia branch of the Syrian Engineers Association, along with a shelter, storage area, and technical facilities on the basement floor.

Six proposals were submitted for the competition, five of which met the requirements and underwent evaluation by the jury. The first prize was awarded to Syrian architects Hisham Nabsh, Ahmad Maasarani, and Adnan Tabbe for their proposal, which was constructed in 1976. The second prize was awarded to the Syrian architect Mustafa AlSheikh, and the third prize was to the Syrian architect Marwan Haddad. Additionally, Syrian architect Mhd Samir Mudarres received an honorable mention.

Jury Comments and presentation of the proposals were presented in an article published in The Arab Engineer Magazine in 1970, written by jury member and Syrian architect Nawfal Al Kasrawi.