Legislative Palace of Ecuador, Parliament building in Quito, Ecuador.
The Legislative Palace of Ecuador stands on a 25,200 m² block bounded by Juan Montalvo, Gran Colombia, 6 de Diciembre and Piedrahita streets, at the northern edge of Quito's Centro Histórico. Designed by architect Alfredo León Cevallos of Sixto Durán Ballén's ARQUIN firm, it was built from 1958 by Mena-Atlas and engineer Galo Pazmiño and handed over in March 1960. Its gardens and broad access platforms were laid out by architect Andrés Chiriboga.
The building was designed in 1956 and completed in 1960 during Ecuador's modernization of state institutions. This construction was part of a wider movement to create contemporary administrative structures across South America.
The building's name changed with the institution: it housed the Congreso Nacional until 2007, when the Asamblea Constituyente convoked by Rafael Correa replaced it, and the Asamblea Nacional has met here since 28 July 2008. The plenary sessions held in the former Recinto Legislativo were broadcast live by radio from the 1950s.
The building is located in central Quito and is accessible to visitors on certain days with prior arrangement. It is best to check ahead since access may be limited when the National Assembly is in session.
The 2003 fire that damaged the palace was reportedly caused by a coffee maker left on in an office. For the next 15 days the full assembly met at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, and the legislature later moved to the Banco Central building until reconstruction ended in 2008.
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