About the Venue

The Cultural Center of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) has a total surface of 3,089 m² (about 33,250 sq. ft.), divided in three floors, having four main auditoriums, seven multiple-use rooms and exposition halls, with an astounding view of the Farroupilha (Redenção) Park.

CASS Workshop will take place in floor 2, in the Ipê Auditorium and the Pitangueira hall, which are located opposite to the lift. The general entrance is located in the rear part of the building, which is accessible for people with disabilities. Note that the front door, seen in the pictures, will be closed.

A bit of History

After World War I, transfering technology from Europe to Brazil became quite difficult. The School of Engineering at Porto Alegre decided to offer a course on Industrial Chemistry. This course was first taught in the dependencies of the Institute for Electrotechnics (nowadays home for UFRGS Electrical Engineering Department) in 1920.

A partnership with local governments led to the construction of the historical building of the Institute for Industrial Chemistry, inaugurated in 1926. This building held classrooms and laboratories for the technical course in Industrial Chemistry and, since 1955, for the undergraduate course in Chemical Engineering.

In 1981, the Institute of Chemistry – then detached from the School of Engineering – moved to "Campus do Vale" (located 15 km from downtown, in the eastern part of the city). From 1981 to 2015, it held administrative offices.

Government investments, direct donations from individuals and companies and fiscal incentives (through the Rouanet Law) throughout the last three decades made the restoration of several historical buildings of the University possible. In 2015, the restoration of this building began.

After the conclusion of the restoration works, the Cultural Center was officialy opened in August 20, 2018, and since then it holds talks, symposiums, musical festivals, plays and many other cultural activities.