Originally built to host the III United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD III) during Salvador Allende’s government, this building was constructed in a record time of 275 days, aiming to honor the skill of Chilean workers, artisans, and artists.
After the coup d’état, its architecture was modified and many of its symbolic works were lost. Its restoration came after a major fire and a public competition for reconstruction.

 Cristián Fernández Arquitectos and Lateral Arquitectura & Diseño were the winners, and the result was inaugurated in September 2010 as the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center, or GAM, featuring multiple theaters, exhibition halls, and other cultural spaces.

GAM has established itself as a major meeting point and an inclusive space open to diversity, presenting theater, dance, music, and other artistic expressions. Its programming seeks to reflect the richness and complexity of Chilean and Latin American culture, offering universal and free access to most of its activities.