Ecuadorian students shine at Architecture Student Contest 2026
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Ecuador's architectural talent shone at the national phase of the Architecture Student Contest 2026 in Quito.
- Students developed innovative, sustainable proposals addressing construction and urbanism challenges.
- The winning Ecuadorian team will represent the country at the international final in Belgrade, Serbia.
Ecuador's architectural innovation and sustainability took center stage at the national finals of the Architecture Student Contest 2026, hosted in Quito. The global initiative by Saint-Gobain brought together architecture students to devise solutions for contemporary construction and urban planning issues. At the Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (UIDE), five student teams presented projects emphasizing energy efficiency, sustainability, and well-being. Nelson Veintimilla, a professor at UIDE's Faculty of Architecture, highlighted the event's role in strengthening student education and connecting them with real-world sector challenges. The victorious Ecuadorian team will now advance to the international finals in Belgrade, Serbia, from June 23-25, 2026, competing against delegations from 34 countries. Gianelly Loor, a member of the winning team, expressed excitement about representing Ecuador and engaging with global experiences. Saint-Gobain, a leader in lightweight and sustainable construction, has organized the contest for over two decades, fostering innovation and connecting future professionals with sustainable building practices. The 2026 edition involves over 1,445 students from 239 universities worldwide, focusing on projects with positive community and environmental impact, evaluated on sustainability, resource efficiency, innovation, and user quality of life.
Spaces like this strengthen our students' training and bring them closer to the real challenges that architecture faces today.
Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.