Conceptual Design + Architectural Schematics + Architectural & Engineering Construction Drawings + Building Permits — complete, coordinated, and CFIA-compliant design, construction drawings, and building permits for hospitality, residential, and commercial buildings.
Building types and project categories PDC designs
Sustainable strategies, energy savings, and LEED certification
Developing projects in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica — surrounded by the beauty of mountains, beaches, and ocean views — has led us to build expertise in sustainable, ecologically conscious designs, providing energy and water use reductions through passive energy saving solutions, use of solar panels, and low water consumption proposals. We are able to obtain the LEED Certification from the US Green Building Council.
We Connect You With the Best Architects for Your Project
With more than 45 years of experience developing projects across Costa Rica, PDC leads the full design process — from conceptual architectural designs and site planning through schematic drawings and construction documents in all areas of architecture & engineering. Every phase is complemented with pre-construction services to ensure constructability, targeted cost, schedule, and quality.
PDC partners with curated, vetted architectural firms matched to your aesthetic, preferences, budget, and design program needs. For projects requiring special architectural design styles or interior design expertise, we assemble dedicated teams of the most talented architects and qualified engineering designers — then direct the entire process through structured project management coordination to achieve the best possible results on schedule and on budget.
Our network of associated design firms allows us to build the right team for each project type, ensuring excellence through every stage — from the first conceptual sketch through construction drawings development and building permit approvals. The owner is involved at every key decision point, while PDC handles the coordination, quality control, and institutional submissions that keep the project moving forward.
| Discipline | Scope |
|---|---|
| Architectural Design | Integration of indoor spaces with outdoor areas, natural views, sustainable designs, local materials & styles, passive energy and water savings, solar panels, green roofs |
| Structural Design for Seismic Zones | Compliance with Seismic Codes, safety for users, efficient design for construction cost savings |
| Mechanical, Electrical & Telecommunications Design | Compliance with local and international codes, energy and water efficiency, solar energy integration |
| Interior Design and FF&E | Innovative use of local materials, furnishings by local artisans, crafts & art from talented artists |
| Landscape & Hardscape Design | Outdoor living areas, sustainable integration with surrounding natural wildlife |
Why Registration Matters in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, all architectural and engineering drawings submitted for building permits must be stamped by professionals registered with the CFIA — Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos (Board of Engineers and Architects). Unstamped drawings are not accepted by any permitting authority.
PDC employs and works with CFIA-registered architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers — all disciplines required to produce a complete, legally submittable construction document set.
CFIA registration also creates professional legal responsibility (responsabilidad profesional) for the accuracy of the drawings. This protects you as the owner: if a structure is built to PDC's stamped documents and a defect results from a design error, the responsible professional bears legal liability — not you.
Phase-by-phase process from concept through construction documents
Feasibility · Program · Site Visits · Design Direction
Conceptual design does not start with drawings — it starts with understanding. PDC begins with a site visit to evaluate the land firsthand: topography, access, views, orientation, vegetation, neighboring context, and any physical constraints that will shape the project. This early field assessment is essential before any design decisions are made.
In parallel, PDC works with the owner to develop the architectural program — the detailed definition of spaces, functions, room counts, lifestyle preferences, design style, and budget expectations. For investment projects, the architectural program is developed against a feasibility analysis that confirms the development concept is financially viable before design fees are committed. The goal is to align what the owner envisions with what the site allows and what the numbers support.
With the site understood and the program defined, PDC produces the first conceptual design: preliminary massing studies, building orientation options, initial floor plan layouts, and design character direction. This phase defines the project's identity — scale, proportion, relationship to the landscape, and spatial organization — before any detailed design investment begins. The conceptual design is presented to the owner for review, refinement, and approval before moving into schematic design.
Concept, Program, and Regulatory Fit
Schematic design translates the owner's program brief and the conceptual design into the first architectural drawings floorplans and facades. This is the phase for exploring massing, orientation, spatial relationships, and design character — before any detailed engineering begins.
PDC's schematic design deliverables include: site plan showing building placement, access, parking, and setbacks; floor plans at 1:100 or 1:200 scale; facade designs and massing renders showing exterior character and material palette; and a program compliance check confirming the design meets zoning setbacks, height limits, land/coverage ratios, and use restrictions under the local Plan Regulador.
Schematic design ends with owner approval of the design direction — the commitment point before investment in detailed design and construction drawings development begins.
Materials, Systems, and Coordination
Design development takes the approved schematic and develops it to the level of detail required to price the project accurately and coordinate all building systems. This is the phase where the design is fully engineered for construction.
PDC's DD phase includes: architectural drawings at 1:50 scale with all dimensions, materials, and finishes specified; structural engineering (column grid, beam schedule, foundation type, seismic calculations — Costa Rica is in a high-seismic zone); MEP systems (mechanical HVAC, plumbing, electrical single-line diagrams, low-voltage systems); and site civil engineering (grading plan, drainage, utility connections).
All disciplines are coordinated in PDC's BIM environment to identify and resolve conflicts between structural, architectural, and MEP elements before construction — eliminating costly field coordination problems.
The Legal Drawing Set for Permits and Construction
Construction documents are the complete, fully detailed drawing set from which the contractor builds. They are also the submission package for the CFIA building permit. In Costa Rica, the CD set must be stamped by the responsible CFIA professionals in each discipline before permit submission.
A complete PDC construction document set includes: architectural drawings (all floor plans, sections, elevations, details, door and window schedules, finish schedule); structural drawings (foundation plan, framing plans, details, reinforcement schedules); civil/site drawings (grading, drainage, utilities, hardscape); MEP drawings (mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, low-voltage); and technical specifications (material and workmanship standards for all trades).
One Model, All Disciplines, No Surprises
PDC produces all construction documents in a coordinated BIM (Building Information Modeling) environment. Every architectural, structural, and MEP element exists in a single integrated model — allowing PDC to detect and resolve system conflicts before they become field problems.
For owners, BIM coordination means: accurate quantity takeoffs directly from the model (supporting more precise cost estimates), 3D visualization of any space during design (eliminating misunderstandings about how a space will look and function), and clash detection reports confirming that structural members, ductwork, piping, and architectural finishes occupy compatible spaces.
PDC delivers the BIM model to the owner at project completion — usable for facility management, future renovation planning, or property marketing.
200+ individual residences across Papagayo Peninsula, Playa Ocotal, Nosara, and Flamingo · Segovia Heights Condominiums (8 towers, 53 units) · Residence Inn by Marriott, Playa Flamingo · Kalia Eco-Luxury Living (28 residences) · All projects: complete construction drawings, CFIA permits, and technical inspection