The Institution came into being at the Ritz Hotel, London on 21 July 1908 as the Concrete Institute, as the result of a much-felt need to define rules for the proper use of concrete in buildings. The first headquarters were established at No. 8, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London; the first President was the Right Honourable the Earl of Plymouth, in whose honour the largest meeting room at the current HQ is named.

Incorporated in 1909 as a company limited by guarantee, it was renamed the Institution of Structural Engineers in 1922, when its areas of interest were extended to cover 'structures' of all kinds; 'structures' being defined as 'those constructions which are subject principally to the laws of statics, but also have to behave satisfactorily when subject to dynamic loads such as wind, seismic action and accidental impact'. The Institution was incorporated by Royal Charter in March 1934.

Following the initial meeting of a small body of founder members at the Ritz, membership of the Institution grew rapidly. By 1925 there were 1700 members; by the 1930s membership stood at more than 3000. There has been consistent growth in membership throughout IStructE's history: 8500 in 1960; 14000 by 1980; to the current 21000.

Qualifying examinations for membership were introduced in 1920 around the same time as the first regional branches were formed, Lancashire & Cheshire being the first in 1922, followed by Western Counties in 1923. In 1937 the South Africa Branch became the first to be established outside the UK. Currently there are 32 Branches, Divisions and Sections across the world, reflecting and supporting the global spread of IStructE's membership.

The library was founded within the first five years of the Institution's life and, in 1917, the first full-time Secretary was appointed. A monthly journal was launched in 1922 which, two years later was given its present title The Structural Engineer.