Council for Development and Reconstruction, Beirut

The Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) is a significant Lebanese governmental organization, created in January 1977 amid the Lebanese civil war. The CDR operates under the direct supervision of the prime minister and was originally established to address the infrastructural damage caused by the civil war, by assessing needs and allocating both international and local aid for reconstruction efforts.

A pivotal moment for the CDR came after the signing of the Ta'if Accord, which marked a new chapter for Lebanon. Post-accord, the CDR was revitalized and granted new legal powers in 1992, coinciding with Rafic Hariri's tenure as prime minister. Under these new provisions, the CDR became a crucial instrument in Lebanon's national recovery and development strategy.

The CDR original building was built on a hill that slopes down. It had a vaulted basement which helped make the ground level flat enough to build the ground and first floors. The renovation aimed to create a main building to accommodate the CDR, which will be at the heart of the Council's activities in the future. Upgrades included central air conditioning, telephones, a computer network, lighting, and power generation systems.

Today, the CDR is involved in all aspects of project implementation ranging from planning, feasibility analysis, and detailed design to bidding, expropriation, execution, and operation and maintenance of most public facilities. It collaborates extensively with both local and international contractors and consulting firms, ensuring that the construction and operational processes of various public facilities are well-managed and efficient.