ðə dᵻsˈɪʒən tʊ ɪɹˈɛkt ðə sˈɛntɚ wʌz mˌeɪd ˈɜːli ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn ænd ɡˌaɪənˈiːz ˈɑːɹkɪtˌɛkts wɜːɹ ɪnvˈaɪɾᵻd tə səbmˈɪt dɪzˈaɪnz fɚðə bˈɪldɪŋ ɪn ɐ kˌɑːmpətˈɪʃən hˈɛld ðæt jˈɪɹ.
The decision to erect the Centre was made early in 1971 and Guyanese architects were invited to submit designs for the building in a competition held that year.