The building of the DRUK Cultural and Community Center was constructed in 1898 by order of S.P. Yakovlev and was one of the largest printing enterprises in Kharkiv at the time. The printing house was part of the “S.P. Yakovlev Company,” which operated six branches, three of them located in Ukrainian cities—Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Kyiv.

The printing house survived the workers’ strikes of 1905 and the October Revolution of 1919, although it suffered serious damage during the civil war: the equipment was destroyed, and parts of the premises were ruined. Between 1924 and 1934, the building underwent restoration and modernization: a third floor and attic were added, and a freight elevator was installed, significantly expanding production capacity.

In the post-war years, technical and storage extensions were built along the plot boundary, forming a closed courtyard. During the Soviet era, the building housed the 4th Printing House of the Ministry of Railways, where railway tickets were printed. In 1980, the building was granted protected status as a local architectural monument.

From 2000, it was home to “Kharkiv Printing House No. 2,” which ceased operations in 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, the building stood abandoned and was rented out. In 2021, a new owner decided to revitalize the historical site.

In 2021, several Kharkiv initiatives began working to restore and transform the building into a cultural center. In early 2022, the first public event took place, attended by around 300 people, marking the Center’s launch. However, the full-scale invasion, fighting in Kharkiv, and the threat of occupation forced the project to pause. Work resumed in 2023, and today the site not only functions as the largest cultural and community center in Kharkiv but is also actively preparing for full-scale restoration.