The rapidly growing and modernizing Argentine military of the 1920s, whose budget had risen threefold in the decade, lacked a commensurate headquarters, and had been housed since the late 19th century in a
Montserrat neighbourhood structure formerly used by the National Mint. Seeking to remedy this, President
Agustín Justo (a retired general and former War Minister) ordered the construction of a new War Ministry, and commissioned Carlos Pibernat, chief architect of the General Engineers' Office, for its design. Pibernat's plans, submitted in 1935, called for twin buildings east and west of the presidential offices at the
Casa Rosada. The building would thus be divided into three sections: two wings to be anchored by a central section staggered outwards in the 230 m (750 ft) long façade, and distinguishable also by a portico and its four additional floors. Perón returned to power in 1973, but his break with erstwhile supporters, the far-left
Montoneros, led to a violent conflict between them and his successor,
Isabel Perón (his widow). Among the most noteworthy attacks in this conflict was the detonation of a car bomb by the Montoneros in front of the Libertador Building on March 15, 1976, which killed a civilian staffer and wounded 29 officers, helping trigger a
coup d'état on March 24. .Its importance as the effective nerve center of Argentine government during the subsequent
dictatorship was later dramatized by a scene filmed in the building by director
Fernando Solanas for his acclaimed 1987 drama,
Sur. The Libertador Building was again in the center of military friction in Argentina when, on December 3, 1990, during a state visit by U.S. President
George H. W. Bush, far-right
Carapintadas faction leader Col.
Mohamed Alí Seineldín temporarily seized the headquarters in a failed coup attempt against President
Carlos Menem (the revolt was quelled within hours). == Architectural style and construction ==