In the aviation builders’ town stands one of Tashkent’s most majestic buildings. Its design was crafted by a team of authors: architects A. Onishchenko, R. Takhtagunov, M. Vakhidov, Yu. Korostelyov, and engineers R. Nasretdinov, A. Talipov.

The palace was constructed in just four years — quickly compared to other major city projects — thanks to the active involvement of the enterprise. According to TAPOiCh employees’ recollections, subbotniks (voluntary work days) were frequently held at the construction site in 1979–1980.

The building’s main space is a 1,500-seat hall with a superbly equipped stage, allowing audiences to enjoy performances and films in comfort worthy of Tashkent’s finest cultural venues. Additionally, the palace featured numerous leisure spaces: a library housing around 100,000 volumes, dozens of interest-based clubs, and amateur activity circles.

Particularly memorable were the choir performing Russian folk songs, the dance circle led by L. P. Sevastyanova (from which the “Lik” Movement Theater later emerged), and the “Gramophone” disco club uniting lovers of contemporary music. The palace hosted New Year and professional holidays, concerts, and “civil christenings” for factory employees’ children — joint birthday celebrations for peers organized by the factory trade union.

For many years, the palace hall hosted meetings of Uzbek KVN teams.

After aircraft production ceased at TAPOiCh, the palace gradually fell into disrepair — no funds remained for its maintenance.

By a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan dated August 29, 2013, the building, structures, and property of the Aviation Builders’ Palace of Culture and Technology were transferred to the Ministry of Defense under the name “Spiritual and Educational Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan.”

In February 2020, the President visited the Center and instructed its revival: reconstruct the building, create a modern cultural and entertainment center, provide conditions for concerts and festive events, improve the surrounding area, and open retail and service outlets.

In 2021, a special commission of international experts invited to Uzbekistan by the Culture and Arts Development Foundation reviewed the preservation and restoration of modernist architectural monuments, including the Aviation Builders’ Palace — still referred to by its old name.

Restoration has not yet begun, but Tashkent residents continue to hope that their beloved building with the soaring Icarus will gain a second life and once again fill with voices, music, performances, exhibitions, and a multitude of vibrant cultural events.