Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The framework evaluates building performance based on sustainability criteria such as energy efficiency, water management, sustainable site planning, indoor environmental quality, and responsible material selection. By applying these criteria, LEED helps guide the design and construction of buildings that reduce environmental impacts while improving operational performance.
Costa Rica has long emphasized environmental sustainability and conservation. This national focus has influenced construction practices, particularly in sectors such as hospitality, commercial development, healthcare facilities, and mixed-use projects. Developers and organizations often consider green building certifications to demonstrate environmental responsibility and align with international sustainability expectations.
Achieving LEED certification requires careful coordination among architects, engineers, contractors, and sustainability specialists. The certification process involves sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, documentation management, and verification of implemented environmental measures. Because the process requires technical expertise and detailed documentation, project teams frequently collaborate with specialized consultancies that guide them through certification requirements.
The following consulting firms provide LEED consulting and sustainability advisory services relevant to building projects in Costa Rica.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007 with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company 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, demonstrating extensive experience in managing international certification processes. The firm has supported developments in sectors including aviation, healthcare, corporate offices, transportation infrastructure, and mixed-use developments.
Among ERKE’s notable projects are 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 illustrate the consultancy’s experience working on large and technically complex developments.
The ERKE team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), WELL APs, BREEAM Assessors, EDGE Experts, and product sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary team supports project teams from early design planning through certification submission.
ERKE also assists developers and design teams in developing strategies for energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable material selection, and improved indoor environmental quality.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946. The company operates in more than 30 countries and provides services across engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Arup assists projects pursuing LEED certification by integrating sustainability strategies into engineering and architectural design. The firm offers services such as building performance modeling, environmental impact analysis, and sustainable design consulting.
Arup often contributes to complex building and infrastructure developments where environmental performance objectives must be integrated with engineering and operational requirements.
The company also provides advisory services related to climate resilience, low-carbon building strategies, and sustainable urban planning.
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 projects seeking LEED certification by helping integrate sustainability strategies related to energy efficiency, water management, sustainable site planning, and responsible material use.
The firm collaborates with architects, engineers, and developers to ensure sustainability objectives are incorporated throughout the design and construction phases.
WSP also provides services such as building energy modeling, carbon footprint analysis, and environmental performance 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 pursuing green building certifications such as LEED. Their services include building performance analysis, sustainable design strategies, and energy efficiency planning.
The firm works with project stakeholders to develop environmental strategies that improve building performance and reduce environmental impacts.
Ramboll also provides advisory services related to environmental management systems, climate impact assessments, and sustainable infrastructure planning.
5. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is an international multidisciplinary 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 infrastructure and building developments, including support for green building certification frameworks such as LEED.
Khatib & Alami assists project teams with environmental design strategies, energy performance assessments, and sustainable site planning to ensure sustainability objectives are incorporated into project development.
The firm frequently contributes to large-scale urban development and infrastructure projects 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 analysis, energy efficiency assessments, 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 systems.
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 experience 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 integrate LEED advisory services within broader engineering and sustainability consulting practices.
Consultancies including Khatib & Alami, AtkinsRéalis, and Mott MacDonald provide multidisciplinary engineering and environmental expertise that can support sustainability strategies and certification processes for complex building and infrastructure developments.
- ERKE Consultancy
- ARUP
- WSP Global
- Ramboll
- Khatib & Alami
- AtkinsRéalis
- Mott MacDonald
The selection of a LEED consultant typically depends on project experience, sustainability objectives, building type, and the level of environmental integration required throughout the design and construction phases.