at a glance

The proposal was retained and studied for ten years, while the efficacy and logistical practicality of several locations were evaluated. Finally the Inhaúma cove was selected. It took three years, from 1949 to 1952, to construct the landfill embankment - an artificial island with an area of 4.8 million square meters. It was to be officially called Ilha da Cidade Universitária, in English, 'Island of the Academic City', but people usually simply refer to it as Ilha do Fundão, or 'Foundation Island'.

The proper construction of the university, a project which was directed by Jorge Machado Moreira, took place until the 1970s, when the dictator Emílio Médici, decided to invest more funding to ensure its completion.