Palma + Taller TO to Design New MAC Panamá Building
Mexican architecture duo Palma + Taller TO has been awarded the project for the forthcoming Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama. The competition commenced in January 2026, drawing a remarkable 363 submissions from 56 nations. By March, five finalists emerged, including notable firms such as Consorcio UTM Ateliers and Productora. The judging panel featured influential figures from the architectural community, including David Basulto and Martha Thorne. The winning design aims to seamlessly blend architecture with public areas, turning the San Francisco district of Panama City into a vibrant cultural destination. The next phase will emphasize technical planning with local professionals.
Key facts
- Palma + Taller TO selected to design new MAC Panamá building
- International competition launched January 2026
- 363 proposals from 56 countries
- Five finalists selected in March 2026
- Jury included David Basulto, José Esparza Chong Cuy, Ramón Zafrani, Annamaria Zampogna, Martha Thorne, Antonio Murzi, Graciela Quelquejeu de Chapman
- New museum located in San Francisco, Panama City
- Design features brick façade inspired by Latin American tradition
- Next step: technical development and local stakeholder engagement
Entities
Artists
- David Basulto
- José Esparza Chong Cuy
- Ramón Zafrani
- Annamaria Zampogna
- Martha Thorne
- Antonio Murzi
- Graciela Quelquejeu de Chapman
Institutions
- Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama (MAC Panamá)
- Palma + Taller TO
- Consorcio UTM Ateliers
- Lanza Atelier
- Productora
- Yektajo Architects
- Selldorf Architects
- STUDIOS Architecture
- BASE Paysagiste
- Louvre
- Casanova+Hernandez Architects
- National Historical Museum in Tirana
- Kengo Kuma & Associates
- Field Operations
- Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art
Locations
- Panama City
- Panama
- San Francisco
- Mexico
- Tirana
- Albania
- Pennsylvania
- United States