Baku State Design Institute was established in 1937. Since its inception, it has been involved in design activities and addressed the urban planning issues in Baku, developed schemes and projects for engineering and transport infrastructure. It developed the Master Plan of Baku that was effective until 2005.

The activities of the Institute include regional planning projects, master plans, detailed planning projects, residential construction projects, residential and commercial construction projects, engineering communications and transport infrastructure projects, environmental protection, ecology, dendrology, drainage, geodesy and geological and feasibility studies, project management, and architectural supervision.