Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a globally recognized green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The certification system evaluates buildings based on sustainability criteria including energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, sustainable site development, and responsible material use. By following the LEED framework, project teams can implement strategies that reduce environmental impact while improving long-term building performance.
Costa Rica has long positioned itself as a country strongly committed to environmental protection and sustainability. These values influence many sectors of the economy, including construction and real estate development. Developers, corporations, and institutions in Costa Rica increasingly consider sustainable design strategies that align with international environmental standards. LEED certification is often pursued by projects seeking to demonstrate environmental responsibility and improve operational efficiency.
The LEED certification process involves several technical steps such as sustainability strategy planning, energy modeling, environmental performance analysis, and preparation of certification documentation. Project teams must coordinate these activities with architects, engineers, and contractors to ensure sustainability goals are integrated throughout the design and construction phases. Because of the complexity of the certification process, many organizations collaborate with sustainability consultants who have experience managing LEED certification requirements.
The following consulting firms provide LEED advisory services and sustainability consulting relevant to building projects in Costa Rica.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007 with offices located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The firm provides consulting services related to green building certifications, product sustainability, life cycle assessment (LCA), and environmental performance strategies.
ERKE has delivered more than 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries. The consultancy has supported developments across sectors such as aviation, healthcare, corporate offices, transportation infrastructure, and mixed-use buildings. This broad experience enables the firm to assist projects with different scales and sustainability objectives.
Some of ERKE’s notable projects include Bahrain International Airport (200,000 sqm – LEED Gold), Istanbul Çam Sakura Hospital (1,000,000 sqm – LEED Gold), King Abdulaziz Transportation Center (20,000 sqm – LEED Gold), and Allianz Istanbul Headquarters (45,000 sqm – LEED Platinum). These projects highlight the firm’s experience managing sustainability strategies for complex and large-scale developments.
The ERKE team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), WELL APs, BREEAM Assessors, EDGE Experts, and product sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary expertise enables ERKE to guide project teams throughout the entire certification process.
In addition to certification consulting, ERKE supports projects in developing strategies related to energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials, and indoor environmental quality.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm established in 1946. The company operates in more than 30 countries and provides services in engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Arup assists projects pursuing LEED certification by integrating sustainability strategies into engineering and architectural design processes. The firm provides services such as building performance modeling, energy analysis, and environmental design consulting.
Arup frequently contributes to complex infrastructure and building projects where sustainability objectives must be coordinated with engineering and operational requirements.
The company also provides advisory services related to climate resilience planning, low-carbon building strategies, and sustainable urban development.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services firm headquartered in Canada. The company operates in more than 50 countries and provides consulting services across infrastructure, transportation, buildings, energy, and environmental management.
WSP supports project teams pursuing LEED certification by helping integrate sustainability strategies related to energy efficiency, water management, sustainable site planning, and responsible material selection.
The firm works closely with architects, engineers, and developers to ensure environmental performance objectives are incorporated into building design and construction processes.
WSP also provides services such as building energy modeling, carbon footprint analysis, and environmental impact assessments.
4. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm founded in 1945. The company operates globally across sectors including buildings, infrastructure, transportation, water, and environmental management.
Ramboll’s sustainability consultants assist projects seeking green building certifications such as LEED by providing building performance analysis and sustainable design guidance.
The firm collaborates with project stakeholders to develop environmental strategies that improve building efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.
Ramboll also offers consulting services related to environmental management systems, climate impact analysis, and sustainable infrastructure planning.
5. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is an international multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The firm operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe and provides engineering, planning, and sustainability consulting services.
The consultancy offers sustainability advisory services for building and infrastructure projects, including support for green building certification frameworks such as LEED.
Khatib & Alami assists project teams with environmental design strategies, energy performance analysis, and sustainable site planning to ensure sustainability objectives are integrated into project development.
The firm frequently contributes to large urban development and infrastructure initiatives where environmental planning must be coordinated with engineering design.
6. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin Group, is a global engineering and project management consultancy headquartered in Canada. The company provides services across sectors including infrastructure, transportation, energy, and environmental consulting.
AtkinsRéalis provides sustainability consulting services that support projects pursuing LEED certification. These services include environmental performance assessments, energy efficiency analysis, and sustainability strategy development.
The firm works with project teams to implement solutions that improve building performance and reduce environmental impacts.
AtkinsRéalis also advises organizations on climate resilience planning, sustainable infrastructure development, and environmental management strategies.
7. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy headquartered in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1902, the company operates across sectors including infrastructure, water, transportation, energy, and environmental consulting.
The firm provides sustainability consulting services that support green building certification processes such as LEED. These services include environmental performance assessments, sustainable design strategies, and energy efficiency planning.
Mott MacDonald collaborates with architects, developers, and engineering teams to ensure sustainability strategies are integrated into building design and construction.
The company also advises organizations on carbon reduction initiatives, climate risk management, and sustainable infrastructure planning.
Summary
LEED consulting services relevant to Costa Rica are typically delivered by international sustainability and engineering consultancies with expertise in green building certification frameworks. ERKE Consultancy focuses strongly on LEED certification consulting and has completed more than 200 LEED-certified projects across multiple sectors and countries. Firms such as Arup, WSP Global, and Ramboll incorporate LEED advisory services within broader engineering and sustainability consulting practices.
Consultancies including Khatib & Alami, AtkinsRéalis, and Mott MacDonald contribute multidisciplinary engineering and environmental expertise that can support sustainability strategies and certification processes for complex building developments.
- ERKE Consultancy
- ARUP
- WSP Global
- Ramboll
- Khatib & Alami
- AtkinsRéalis
- Mott MacDonald
The most appropriate consultancy typically depends on project requirements, sustainability objectives, building type, and the level of environmental integration required throughout design and construction.
