António Adão da Fonseca
ADÃO DA FONSECA – Engenheiros Consultores
António Adão da Fonseca graduated in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and obtained his PhD in 1980 from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, in the field of structural engineering. His dissertation, titled “Plastic Analysis and Synthesis of Plates and Shells by Mathematical Programming,” demonstrates how structural analysis should reflect structural optimization. This principle has strongly influenced his work as a structural engineer and is evident in the design and detailing of many of his buildings and bridges.
Adão da Fonseca has extensive experience in the design and coordination of highly complex bridge and building projects. Some of the most significant projects are associated with his name. After completing his PhD, while simultaneously teaching at FEUP—where he served as a full professor of bridge engineering until 2010—he resumed his professional activity as a civil engineer and founded the engineering firm AFA – Adão da Fonseca e Associados – Consultores de Engenharia in 1985.
In 1997, he invited his main project managers at AFA to become partners and founded AFAssociados – Projectos de Engenharia, covering the full scope of building and bridge engineering projects. In both companies, Adão da Fonseca served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Designer for bridges and special structures.
In December 2005, he left AFAssociados and founded ADÃO DA FONSECA – Engenheiros Consultores (AdF), in order to refocus on the design of bridges and special structures and to provide specialized consulting and expert services in civil engineering.
In 2012, together with the Spanish company IDEAM and the Brazilian company RMG, he co-founded the Brazilian company ADEAM – Engenharia e Consultoria, dedicated to the Latin American market.
After 2010, international opportunities expanded. In order to achieve a more efficient global presence, he partnered in 2016 with the renowned structural engineer and designer Cecil Balmond to establish the British firm Balmond & Adao, Consultancy Limited (B&A).
Projects between 1985 and 2005 were designed within AFA; after 2005, projects were developed under AdF, ADEAM, or B&A.
Between 1992 and 2002, Adão da Fonseca also held leadership positions in the Portuguese Chamber of Engineers and in the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE). Within the Chamber of Engineers, he promoted specialization, competencies, and professional responsibility in civil engineering. As President of the ECCE, he played a key role in the unanimous adoption of the European Code of Conduct for Civil Engineers at the General Assembly in Rome in 2000.
He has published numerous articles in national and international journals, as well as contributions to conference proceedings. He is the author of many lectures presented at national and international symposia and conferences.
(Source: https://www.adfconsultores.com/pt/equipa/partners/antonio-adao-da-fonseca/)
A lecture in the lecture series „Made in Portugal“ by the Faculty of Architecture and Planning from the research area Building Construction 2: Building Construction, Construction and Design.
Lecturers:
- Ricardo Bak Gordon (Bak Gordon Arquitectos) – WS 25/26
- Inês Lobo (Inês Lobo Arquitectos) – WS 25/26
- Ricardo Carvalho (Ricardo Carvalho Arquitectos & Associados) – WS 25/26
- Graça Correia (Correia/Ragazzi Arquitectos) – 23.04.2026
- António Adão da Fonseca (Adão da Fonseca engenheiros consultores) – 30.04.2026
- Cristina Guedes (Menos é Mais Arquitectos) – 07.05.2026
TU WIEN INSTITUT FÜR ARCHITEKTUR UND ENTWERFEN
FORSCHUNGSBEREICH HOCHBAU – KONSTRUKTION UND ENTWERFEN E 253/5
UNIV.PROF. DI DIETMAR FEICHTINGER
hb2.tuwien.ac.at
instagram.com/hb2.tuwien/