diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py b/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d3d4446e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import os
+
+from spack.architecture import Architecture, Target
+
+class Bgq(Architecture):
+    priority    = 30
+    front_end   = 'power7'
+    back_end    = 'powerpc'
+    default     = 'powerpc'
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(Bgq, self).__init__('cray')
+        self.add_target('power7', Target('power7'))
+        self.add_target('powerpc', Target('powerpc'))
+
+    @classmethod
+    def detect(self):
+        return os.path.exists('/bgsys')
+