An international design competition launched in January 2026 selected Palma + Taller TO to design the new Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama. The museum will be located in the corregimiento of San Francisco to strengthen the area as a cultural hub. The competition prioritized proposals that connect the museum with the city through integrated elements for community engagement and that frame the building as cultural infrastructure enriching Panama City’s contemporary urban environment. The competition received 363 proposals from 56 countries, with Mexico contributing the most teams. After a first evaluation in March 2026, five finalist teams were chosen, revised submissions were requested, and the final selection in May 2026 selected Palma + Taller TO for execution. The jury included Latin American architects, an urbanist, and museum representatives.
"Following an international design competition launched in January 2026, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama (MAC Panamá) announced the selection of Mexican architects Palma + Taller TO to design its new building. The museum is described as “a new cultural infrastructure open to the city, conceived from the identity, climate, and landscape of Panama.” The future museum headquarters will be located in the corregimiento of San Francisco, to consolidate the area as a hub of cultural activity."
"The selection criteria involved the relationship between the museum and the city, prioritizing proposals with integrated elements for community engagement and framing the building as a cultural infrastructure, enriching the contemporary urban environment of Panama City. The International Competition for the Design of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama aimed at selecting an architectural proposal capable of responding both to the future of museography for contemporary art and to Panamanian cultural identity."
"During the first evaluation phase in March 2026, the jury selected five finalist teams, Consorcio UTM Ateliers, Lanza Atelier, Productora, Palma + Taller TO, and Yektajo Architects, from 363 proposals submitted from 56 countries. Each team received a document with observations before the final submission on May 11, 2026. The revised proposals were subsequently re-evaluated as part of the final selection process, with Palma + Taller TO's proposal being chosen for execution."
"The jury was composed of Latin American architects David Basulto, José Esparza Chong Cuy, Ramón Zafrani, and Annamaria Zampogna; urbanist Martha Thorne; and Antonio Murzi and Graciela Quelquejeu de Chapman representing the museum. The selection criteria considered architectural quality, territorial relevance, technical and eco"
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