Central Design Organization was created in the year 1969 with a view to provide higher level of design inputs in multi-storeyed projects which could not be handled by the design units under Chief Engineers. As pressures on availability of land increased, CPWD could utilize the services of CDO for high rise built habitats and complex projects such as jetties and bridges. CDO has provided its services to over 350 projects in CPWD and 35 projects in last four years alone. Important projects designed by CDO are Parliament Library Complex, Parliament Annexe Building, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Museum, Supreme Court Extension, National Stadium, Afghan Parliament in Kabul, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration Mussoorie, Hall of States ITPO etc.

At present, Central Design Organization has the responsibility of structural design of complex structures (with structural cost over Rs. 25 Crores) incorporating state of art engineering practices and technology. It is also responsible for contributing to the consultation process of BIS for framing new Codes and Handbooks and thus setting standards for the construction industry as a whole. CDO also offers its services in preparing several technical documents/reports such as Handbook on Seismic Retrofitting, Design Manuals, Fly ash utilization guidelines, and seismic assessment reports of critical government buildings.

Important projects being designed in CDO at present are New Campus for Supreme Court.

All design and drafting work in CDO is fully computerised. Design and analysis is done by using softwares such as STAAD, eTABS, STRUDS, SAP, STAAD Foundation etc. Drafting work is done through AUTOCAD using heavy duty full size HP drafter plotters. Computing is done through high end Intel Core i7 – 2600 Processors.