Hey, Gerald. For a while, I was a Physics researcher and the "Centro de Tecnologia Nuclear", even being located inside a university campus, it is actually "controled" by military force. That's the discussion within the university community, because some people do not feel good about it. You have also to remember that there is a Military School and training area right next to the campus.
Now about "Grama do DCC", I heard this name among the students, but I'm not sure about the classification, though. Moreover, it is indeed an area of relaxation after school hours. So it's not just a "grass", but a meeting area among students.