Among 9 projects of metalworking plants designed by Yakov Chernikhov, the most significant were those of the Steel Wire (1928–29) and the Cable-Making (1929–30) workshops of the Krasny Gvozdilschik Factory.

"St. Petersburg Steelworks Rolling Mill" founded in 1857, was nationalized in 1919, and renamed "Krasniy Gvozdilschik" in 1921. The factory occupied 9.9 hectares and was bordered by Kosaya Line to the north, by 25th line to the east, by Kozhevennaya Line to the south, and by 26th Line of Vasilyevsky Island to the west. During the First Five-Year Industrial Plan, the plant was reconstructed. The new plant comprised of steel rolling, steel wire and cable workshops, all equipped at a state-of-the-art level.

Yakov Chernikhov's project of the cable-making workshop was approved by the presidium of Leningrad Economic Council on August 15, 1929 (Protocol № 155). The length of the building was 128 m, while the width was only 39,5 m. The total area was about 5080 m², including the corner jut of the water-pumping station. The height of the main building to the cornice was 11 meters. The height of the water tower was 28 meters. The final design of the cable workshop was modified by architect M. Felger and engineer K. Sakhnovsky, who made changes keeping them in line with Chernikhov's project.