Oscar Niemeyer designed the palace in 1958, seeking simplicity and modernity with fine lines and waves in the columns. Construtora Rabello led the work, which began on July 10, 1958. President Juscelino Kubitschek inaugurated it on April 21, 1960. The columns are a variation of those at the Palácio da Alvorada, arranged transversely to the building.
The ramp to the hall and the parlatorium are the main facade elements, and the ramp is used only for special ceremonies. The building has four floors above ground and one below, stands 65.65 feet (20.01 m) high and has 390,000 square feet (36,000 m²) of floor area. The underground garage holds 500 vehicles. A reflecting pool of about 17,600 square feet (1,635 m²) was built in 1991.
The 2009 to 2010 restoration cost 111 million reais, against an earlier cited figure of 103 million. The palace is open to the public on Sundays from 9:30 am to 2 pm, with 20-minute guided tours.
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