Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)


World Heritage Identification Number: 1250

World Heritage since: 2007

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇲🇽 Mexico

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean

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A Modernist Icon: The Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

The Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), located in the Coyoacán borough of Mexico City, stands as a testament to mid-20th century modernist architecture and urban planning. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, this expansive complex serves as the primary campus for Mexico's national university, offering a unique blend of modern design principles and references to Mexico's rich pre-Hispanic heritage.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The ensemble of buildings, sports facilities and open spaces of the Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), was built from 1949 to 1952 by more than 60 architects, engineers and artists who were involved in the project. As a result, the campus constitutes a unique example of 20th-century modernism integrating urbanism, architecture, engineering, landscape design and fine arts with references to local traditions, especially to Mexico’s pre-Hispanic past. The ensemble embodies social and cultural values of universal significance and is one of the most significant icons of modernity in Latin America.

Encyclopedia Record: Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City

Ciudad Universitaria is the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), located in Coyoacán borough in the southern part of Mexico City. Designed by architects Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral, it encloses the Olympic Stadium, about 40 faculties and institutes, the Cultural Center, an ecological reserve, the Central Library, the National Library of Mexico and a few museums. It was built during the 1950s on an ancient solidified lava bed in Coyoacán called "El Pedregal" to replace the scattered buildings in downtown Mexico City where classes were given. It was completed in 1954 at a cost of approximately $25 million. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 176.5 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (i) — Masterpiece of human creative genius
(ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 19.3322222222 , -99.1880555555

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Image of Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

© Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Country Information: Mexico

Flag of Mexico

Official Name: United Mexican States

Capital: Mexico City

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 130,861,007

Population (2023): 129,739,759

Population (2022): 128,613,117

Land Area: 1,943,950 sq km

Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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