The Ecuadorian government, through the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture (Minedec), has launched a call for national and international architects to participate in the design process for the new National Museum of Ecuador building. The initiative is being conducted with technical advice from the College of Architects of Ecuador (CAE-P).
The announcement was made on December 2, 2025, at an event held at the main hall of the current National Museum in Quito. Both national and local authorities attended.
The planned investment for the project exceeds $95 million. The new museum will be constructed on a 13,004.65 square meter site located at Eloy Alfaro and República avenues, opposite La Carolina Park in Quito’s financial and cultural district.
Participating architects must present multidisciplinary teams capable of addressing architectural conceptualization, urban integration, and cultural facility programming. The selection process will take place in two stages: first, submission of credentials and portfolios; second, only selected teams will develop preliminary architectural designs.
According to officials, “the construction of the National Museum building, which safeguards more than 1.2 million cultural and heritage items spanning 12,000 years of history and forming the country’s most important collection, will strengthen the institution’s educational and social role, ensure protection of its collections, and bring art, history and culture closer to new generations. In addition, it will position Quito—Ecuador’s capital and UNESCO’s first World Heritage city—as a national cultural and tourism reference.”
For the first time since its founding in 1969, the National Museum will have its own modern building equipped for conservation, research and public engagement. It will include exhibition halls, conservation areas, research spaces, educational zones, public areas and landscaping designed to connect with its urban surroundings.
Details about competition guidelines and schedules are available online at https://construccion.museonacional.gob.ec
Officials stated: “With this step, Daniel Noboa’s government reaffirms its commitment to a country that values its history while looking to the future. The construction of the new National Museum will be a space where more Ecuadorians can connect with their identity, creativity and collective memory.”
