The Ecuadorian government has announced the start of the process to build a new facility for the Museo Nacional del Ecuador. The Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture (Minedec), with technical advice from the Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador (CAE-P), has opened a call for national and international architects with interdisciplinary teams to submit their credentials and portfolios as part of the first stage in an architectural design competition.
The announcement was made on December 2, 2025, at an event held at the main hall of the current Museo Nacional in Quito. National and local authorities attended the event.
The planned investment exceeds $95 million for what will be the first dedicated building for the Museo Nacional del Ecuador. The site covers 13,004.65 square meters and is located at Avenida Eloy Alfaro and República, across from Parque La Carolina in Quito’s financial and cultural district.
Participating teams must demonstrate expertise in architectural conceptualization, urban integration, and programmatic solutions for cultural facilities.
The competition will proceed in two stages. In the first stage, interested parties present their credentials and portfolios. Only selected teams with adequate professional capacity and experience will advance to develop preliminary architectural designs in the second stage.
According to organizers, “the construction of the Museo Nacional building, which houses more than 1.2 million cultural and heritage items spanning 12,000 years of history—the country’s most important collection—will strengthen its educational and social role, ensure protection of its collections, and bring art, history, and culture closer to new generations.” They added that this project would position Quito as a national reference point for culture and tourism.
For the first time since its founding in 1969, “the Museo Nacional del Ecuador will have its own modern building equipped for conservation, research, and dissemination of national heritage; it will include exhibition halls, conservation areas, research spaces, educational zones, public areas,” as well as landscaping that connects it to its urban surroundings.
This initiative coincides with celebrations marking Quito’s foundation anniversary. Details about contest rules are available online starting December 2 at https://construccion.museonacional.gob.ec
Organizers stated: “With this step forward by Daniel Noboa’s government we reaffirm our commitment to a country that values its history while looking toward the future. The new museum will be a space where more Ecuadorians can connect with their identity.”
