The Ligovsky People's House was built in 1901–1903 at the expense of Countess Sofia Panina.

It was one of a number of People's Houses created across Imperial Russia aimed at providing facilities for making art and cultural appreciation available to the working classes.

Sofia Panina had been involved in a number of initiatives to support the local working class community: in1891, she had helped create a free children's canteen in rented premises was opened in the Alexander Nevsky District.

Over the next decade this developed into a teahouse with a library and facilities for evening educational classes for adults and children.

When permission was granted Julius Benois was engaged as the architect and the building was completed in 1903.