In 1983, as part of the commemorative programme for the 5th Centenary of the discovery of America, the Ministry of Public Works founded a Commission to promote the study and dissemination of public works projects carried out in Latin America.

Royal Decree 1121 /1986, dated 6 June, gave it its definitive form, under the name, the Centre for Historical Studies of Public Works and Town Planning (CEHOPU).

Through CEDEX (Centre for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works), CEHOPU is organically attached to the Ministry of Public Works and functionally attached to the Ministry of Fomento and the Ministry of Environment.