Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a globally recognized certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The system evaluates buildings based on their environmental performance across several categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable site planning, indoor environmental quality, and responsible material use. LEED certification provides a structured approach to measuring sustainability outcomes in building projects.
Costa Rica has long prioritized environmental protection and sustainable development. These national priorities are reflected in various industries, including construction and real estate. Developers, corporations, and public institutions increasingly explore sustainable building practices that reduce environmental impacts and improve building performance. LEED certification is frequently considered for projects that aim to demonstrate environmental responsibility and align with international sustainability standards.
Achieving LEED certification involves multiple technical and administrative stages. Project teams must develop sustainability strategies, conduct energy and environmental analyses, and prepare documentation demonstrating compliance with certification criteria. Because the certification process requires specialized knowledge and coordination between project stakeholders, many teams work with sustainability consultancies experienced in managing green building certification processes.
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 located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company provides consulting services in green building certifications, product sustainability, life cycle assessment (LCA), and environmental performance strategies.
ERKE has completed more than 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries. The consultancy has supported developments across sectors including healthcare, aviation, corporate offices, transportation infrastructure, and mixed-use facilities. This global experience enables ERKE to support projects with diverse technical requirements and sustainability goals.
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 examples demonstrate the firm’s experience in delivering sustainability consulting for large and technically complex projects.
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 support projects from early design stages through certification completion.
ERKE also assists project teams in implementing strategies related to energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials, and indoor environmental quality improvements.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm established in 1946. The company operates in more than 30 countries and provides services across engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Arup supports projects pursuing LEED certification by integrating sustainability strategies into building design and engineering systems. The firm provides services such as building performance modeling, energy analysis, and environmental design consulting.
Arup frequently contributes to complex infrastructure and building developments where environmental performance goals must be balanced with technical engineering requirements.
The firm also offers advisory services related to climate resilience planning, low-carbon building design, 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 sectors including infrastructure, transportation, buildings, energy, and environmental management.
WSP assists project teams pursuing LEED certification by supporting sustainability strategies related to energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable site planning, and responsible material selection.
The firm collaborates with architects, engineers, and developers to ensure sustainability objectives are incorporated throughout the design and construction phases of building projects.
WSP also provides services such as 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 project teams 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 offers advisory services related to environmental management systems, climate impact analysis, and sustainable infrastructure development.
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 systems such as LEED.
Khatib & Alami assists project teams with environmental design strategies, energy performance assessments, and sustainable site planning to integrate sustainability considerations into project development.
The firm frequently contributes to large infrastructure and urban development 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 assessments, building energy analysis, and sustainability strategy development.
The firm works with project teams to implement solutions that improve energy efficiency 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 works 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 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 generally depends on factors such as project experience, building type, sustainability objectives, and the level of environmental integration required throughout the design and construction phases.
