The National Government of Ecuador, through the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture and with the technical advice of the College of Architects of Ecuador (CAE-P), invites participation in the development of the preliminary architectural design of the new building of the Museo Nacional del Ecuador, an institution that safeguards more than 1,2 million cultural and heritage assets that tell 12.000 years of history and make up the most important collection in the country. 

The goal is to consolidate the National Museum as a cultural platform of national scope and a tourist landmark for Quito, the first UNESCO World Heritage city, through a new building with a projected area of ​​25.000  m² that integrates exhibition halls, conservation and research areas, educational spaces, public areas and a landscape plan that strengthens its link with the urban environment.

• 13.004,65m²
• Eloy Alfaro Avenue and Republic Avenue, Iñaquito Parish, Quito – Pichincha – Ecuador 

The call is aimed at architects, architects with multidisciplinary teams who can demonstrate, through previous projects, the ability to tackle a project of such scale and complexity, demonstrating competence in architectural conceptualization, urban integration and programmatic resolution of cultural facilities.

Modality: Open call, national and international.

 The call for applications will take place in two stages:

• Stage 1Open call for the submission of credentials and portfolios.
• Step 2: Architectural Design Proposals, in which only the teams selected in the previous stage will participate, provided they possess the professional, technical, and experience necessary to develop a project of this scale. Applications must be submitted by email to:
  convocatoria@museonacional.gob.ec
  

The Stage 1 evaluation committee will consist of:

Institutional technical delegates:

* Architect Carla Arellano Granizo, delegate of the Vice President of the Republic

* Mgs. Romina Alejandra Muñoz Procel, Vice Minister of Culture, ddelegate of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture; 

* Civil Engineer Roberto Luque Nuques, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport or its delegate

Technical delegates:

* Architect Diego Ordoñez Holguín, President of the College of Architects of Ecuador or his delegate (CAE-P)

* Architect Hernán Crespo Bermejo, International specialist in museum design

Observer without a vote:

Dr. Carlos Montalvo Puente, Director of Museo Nacional del Ecuador

Jury Formation for Stage 2 – Evaluation of Architectural Preliminary Design Proposals 

For Stage 2 of the International Call for the Architectural Preliminary Design of the new building of Museo Nacional del EcuadorA jury of seven (7) voting members has been formed, along with the Vice Minister of Culture, the Director of Museo Nacional del Ecuador and institutional technical advisors, who will participate with voice and consultative character during the evaluation process. 

Panel of institutional judges 

• Daniel Noboa Azín, President of the Republic of Ecuador and his technical delegate, Civil Engineer Roberto Luque Nuques (1) 
• María José Pinto, Vice President of the Republic of Ecuador and her technical delegate, Architect Carla Arellano Granizo (1) 

Panel of technical judges 

National Architects 

• Architect Luis López López (1) 
• Architect Diego Ordoñez Holguín (1) 

International Architects 

• Architect Alejandro Zaera-Polo (1) 
• Architect Eduardo MckIntosh (1)
• Museum specialist 
• Architect Hernán Crespo Bermejo (1) 

Advisory (non-voting) 

• Ms. Romina Muñoz, Vice Minister of Culture and Heritage  
• Dr. Carlos Montalvo, Executive Director of Museo Nacional del Ecuador. 

Stage 1 does not include monetary prizes, because it is the starting point to identify the teams with the vision, track record and solidity necessary to advance to the next stage.

In Stage 2, there will be a single winner who will receive USD 450.000 for the delivery of the preliminary project. 

The second place winners and honorable mentions will not receive a cash prize, but their proposals will be part of the public exhibition of the competition, giving them visibility and recognition within the process..

Participating teams can send their queries about Stage 1 to the email address questions@museonacional.gob.ec between December 2th 2025 and the January 13, 2026Until the 23:59 (UTC–5)Official responses will be issued by the organizer through the same channel by [date missing]. January 20, 2026, until the 23:59 (UTC–5).

The application must be sent by email to convocatoria@museonacional.gob.ec

The supporting documentation must be uploaded to a single link to a digital cloud (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.) with open read access.

The documentation may be submitted in Spanish or English.

The Stage 1 Evaluation Committee will be published on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The names of the Stage 2 Jury members will be officially announced on Saturday, January 31, 2026. This information will be available on the official call for proposals website.

Both the Stage 1 Evaluation Committee and the Stage 2 Jury include technical experts with the necessary experience to evaluate a project of this scale, ensuring a professional assessment. Furthermore, institutional participation guarantees that the preliminary project proposals meet the requirements outlined in the call for proposals. 

The Stage 2 Jury will consist of: 

With Vote

• President of the Republic of Ecuador or his delegate.
• Vice President of the Republic of Ecuador and his accompanying technical delegate.

Technical jury panel: 

• 2 International Architects
• 2 National Architects
• 1 Museum Specialist

Without a vote:

• Director of Museo Nacional del Ecuador

In accordance with the competition rules, the role of “Museum Designer/Specialist” can be assumed by an architect, designer, set designer or related professional, provided that they demonstrate verifiable experience in museum design of more than ten (10) years.

Specific proven experience in the design of exhibitions on different themes will be especially valued, particularly in museographic projects related to archaeology, art and science.

"Public buildings" are considered to be those buildings of public or private ownership, whose program and operation are intended for the access, use or service of the community or the general public.

The additional value given to the participation of teams with local experience in projects built or under construction in the country will be defined by the Evaluation Committee. 

This assessment recognizes the importance of situated knowledge and understanding of Ecuador's territorial, cultural, and urban context, encouraging the integration of teams with experience in the country and promoting collaboration between international practices and local knowledge.

No. To demonstrate technical experience, projects must be completed or under construction to ensure that teams demonstrate experience in the comprehensive delivery of a project at all stages. 

The call is open, national and international, which enables the participation of foreign and local offices on equal terms. 

For Stage 1, a simple copy of your professional registration from your country is sufficient. No legal formalization, domicile, or prior establishment in Ecuador is required to participate in this phase.

Any legal formalization or representation requirements in the country will be defined only in later stages. If you are selected as the winner of Stage 2, the financial recognition will be made upon full delivery of the preliminary project, in accordance with applicable Ecuadorian regulations.

For the academic accreditation of foreign specialists, the documentation issued by the competent entity of the country of origin will be recognized.

At Table 1. Team Members In Annex 2, the last column on the right should be used to clearly specify which office or company of the consortium each of the technical professionals presented belongs to.

At Table 2. Team Experience and TTable 3. Team Awards and Recognition In Annex 2, each row corresponds to an individual project or recognition. In the case of consortia, projects may be accredited by any of the firms comprising the team, provided that the authorship or co-authorship is clearly identified and the corresponding verification documentation is attached.

A maximum of 7 projects will be evaluated for the General Experience and 7 projects for the Specific Experience, according to Annex 2, Tables 2.1 and 2.2.

In the case of Awards and Recognitions, a maximum of 7 awards will be evaluated for the “First Prize” category and 4 awards for the “Second, third prize and mentions” category, according to Annex 2, Table 3.

The formats in Annex 2 must be respected. All documentation must be included in the ZIP file and in a downloadable link. 

The internal documents of the compressed file must be submitted in digital PDF format, the graphic sheet of each work or project submitted in DIN A3 format, with a maximum of one sheet per project.

From the ZIP file, an MD5 Hash code must be generated using any standard tool.

The MD5 hash code must be included in the body of the email, along with the file download link.

Yes. The project has been designated a priority strategic public investment and has funds allocated by the National Government to ensure the complete execution of the work until December 2029.

In the Call for Proposals for the Architectural Preliminary Design of the new building of Museo Nacional del EcuadorThe scope of the first two stages corresponds exclusively to the development of the preliminary architectural design.
The development of the final project and construction will take place in a later phase through a public procurement process.
In this process, the contracting entity will ensure that the author of the selected design participates as responsible for maintaining respect for the integrity of the architectural design of the work.

The applicable tax treatment, including income tax withholdings, taxes associated with transfers abroad and any other applicable tax or foreign exchange outflow charges, will be applied according to the legal nature, tax domicile and particular situation of the winning team.

If the winning firm is domiciled in a country with which Ecuador has a double taxation agreement in force, the application of said agreement will be considered, in accordance with the requirements and conditions provided therein.

There is no predetermined maximum number. All teams that meet the minimum solvency, experience, and technical criteria established in the Stage 1 Technical Specifications will be selected to participate in Stage 2.

The files must be submitted in digital PDF format, the graphic sheet of each work or project submitted in DIN A3 format, with a maximum of one sheet per project.

All documentation must be compressed into a single ZIP file which will be uploaded to a cloud storage platform (such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or similar).

From the ZIP file, an MD5 Hash code must be generated using any standard tool.

The MD5 hash code must be included in the body of the email, along with the file download link.

It is recommended that each file/document have an optimized size to facilitate downloading and viewing.

https://construccion.museonacional.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Guia-para-envio-de-documentacion-1.pdf

Digital signatures or scanned physical signatures are accepted on all required documents.

The Letter of Interest must be signed only by the Project Director, who acts as the team's official representative to the competition organizers.

Since this is a national and international call for applications, documentation may be submitted in Spanish or English, as specified in the guidelines. Please ensure consistency in the language selection across all attachments.

In the case of original documents issued in a language other than Spanish or English, a simple translation into Spanish or English must be attached for verification and evaluation purposes.

Detailed technical information: soil studies, area programs, reference plans, schedules, reference budget for the work, technical requirements and conditions of the  Museo Nacional del EcuadorThe collections and all the technical information necessary for the development of the preliminary architectural designs will be published on the official website of the call and made available to the selected teams prior to the start of Stage 2. 

The required deliverables will be detailed in the Technical Specifications for Stage 2, which will be published from March 13, 2026.

The building will have a reference area of ​​25.000m2. The reference cost of the construction of the project will be communicated in the technical specifications of Stage 2 of the call for proposals.

Professionals with blood ties, affinity or business relationships with members of the jury or the evaluation committee cannot participate, in accordance with the prohibitions detailed in the rules.

The visits are optional and will be coordinated through official channels during Stage 2 of the call for applications with the teams previously selected in Stage 1.

During Stage 2 of the competition, the proposals will be handled under strict anonymity, in accordance with the rules, in order to guarantee an objective and impartial evaluation process.

Once the call for proposals has concluded, a public exhibition of the evaluated proposals will be organized. Additionally, several strategies will be implemented to disseminate the submitted design proposals and publicize the work of the participating teams.

No. The call does not include the granting of an initial stipend for participation in Stage 1, nor for the preparation of proposals in Stage 2.

The financial award will be given only to the winning team of Stage 2. The jury may also award honorable mentions to projects it deems worthy, without this implying any financial compensation.

The scope of the first two stages of the competition corresponds exclusively to the development of the preliminary architectural design.

The development of the final project and the construction of the Museo Nacional del Ecuador These will be developed in a later phase through a public procurement process. In this process, the contracting entity will ensure that the author of the selected design participates as the responsible party for maintaining respect for the integrity of the architectural design of the project. 

No. The intellectual authorship of the preliminary project belongs at all times to its author(s), in accordance with the copyright regime established in the Organic Code of the Social Economy of Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation (Ingenios Code).

Moral rights, which include the right to recognition of authorship and respect for the integrity of the work, are inalienable, non-waivable, and imprescriptible. Consequently, the preliminary design may not be substantially modified, reused, or transferred for its technical development or implementation without the participation of the author of the selected design.

The proprietary rights will be subject to an express and limited assignment, exclusively for the purposes of development, construction, use and institutional dissemination of the Museo Nacional del Ecuador, under the terms established in current regulations and in the corresponding contractual instruments, without affecting the authorship or integrity of the work.

The Project Director acts as the team's official representative to the call for proposals. They are responsible for signing the Letter of Interest and for administrative and technical coordination throughout the process.

This designation does not prevent the project from being developed under internal schemes of co-direction or co-authorship among the team members, provided that a single point of formal representation is maintained in accordance with the rules.

In the event that the winning team is made up exclusively of international firms and does not have legal representation in Ecuador, a specific agreement will be signed regulating the form of payment of the economic recognition for the design of the complete preliminary project.

The payment mechanisms will be defined by mutual agreement between the parties and will be executed in accordance with current Ecuadorian regulations, including applicable tax provisions and agreements to avoid double taxation, where appropriate.

No. The terms and conditions do not require the formation of a consortium or the mandatory participation of a local firm.

Teams may consist of individuals or legal entities, whether national or foreign, and may include more than one firm within the same team. The form of association is solely at the discretion of the parties.

The preparation of the final project and the construction phase will be carried out at a later stage through a public procurement process, ensuring that the author of the selected design participates as responsible for maintaining respect for the integrity of the architectural design of the work. 

The investment project contemplates that the contracting of the construction of Museo Nacional del Ecuador It is carried out under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) modality.

The same professional can assume more than one role within the core team (for example, Project Director and Senior Architect), provided that they fully meet the qualification and experience requirements for each of the positions.

Regarding the minimum experience required by the team, there is no express restriction preventing the same project from being presented more than once within the portfolio, provided that the minimum number of works required is met and that the authorship or co-authorship and the role effectively performed by each professional in said project are clearly identified.

However, it is recommended that the projects presented be different, in order to demonstrate a broader and more diverse professional trajectory, as well as a greater problem-solving capacity in accordance with the complexity and scale of the commission.

No independent professional “natural person” or company may participate in more than one team.

The equipment described in the technical specifications is the minimum required; it will be verified that the technical team fully complies with the established minimum requirements, including the mandatory composition of the core team, the professional suitability and the qualification of each member.

Additionally, teams may include other professionals they deem relevant for the comprehensive development of the proposal. The inclusion of additional professionals does not replace or modify the minimum requirements for the core team. The evaluation will only be based on compliance with the minimum team requirements. 

The organization is fully aware of the investment of time, resources, and professional expertise required to participate in a competition of this magnitude, for both national and international teams. Therefore, the competition has been structured according to principles of transparency, institutional integrity, and public accountability.

The support of the National Government of Ecuador, the budget allocation planned for the project and the technical support of the College of Architects of Ecuador – Province of Pichincha (CAE-P) constitute clear guarantees that this process has been conceived to materialize in the short and medium term, in accordance with the administrative and contractual procedures of the Ecuadorian State.

The project of the new Museo Nacional del Ecuador It has been designated a priority project for public investment by the Ecuadorian State, guaranteeing its inclusion in official planning and its financing with resources allocated by the National Government. This designation establishes an execution timeframe until December 2029.

The call for applications is open to all, both nationally and internationally, allowing foreign and local offices to participate on equal terms. The guidelines permit teams to be composed of individuals or legal entities, whether national or international, and allow for the participation of more than one firm within a single team, thus facilitating partnerships between international firms and local offices.

The financial award covers the development of the complete preliminary architectural design, which will be updated based on the jury's feedback. This process will include a coordination phase with the client to make the necessary adjustments for this stage of the design.

To verify the experience and authorship of the projects presented, certificates issued by the owner or promoter of the project, as well as architectural planning or design contracts, are accepted as valid supporting documentation.

In all cases, the documents must clearly identify the status of author or co-author of the project, the effective participation of the professional or firm, and the role played within the team responsible for the design.

Additionally, specialized publications, catalogs, official websites, institutional links or other verifiable sources may be submitted to corroborate authorship and participation in the submitted projects, in accordance with the formats and requirements established in the rules and in the corresponding Annexes.