Project Management

What PDC Project Management Covers

The Full Scope from Day One

Project management in Costa Rica is not just site oversight. It is the systematic control of every variable that determines whether a project delivers on its objectives: cost, schedule, quality, scope, and risk.

PDC's project management service covers pre-construction — architectural design review and constructability coordination, value engineering, engineering drawings management and review across all disciplines, permitting process oversight, bidding management, contractor selection, and contract drafting — as well as the construction phase (schedule control, cost accounting, subcontractor coordination, quality inspections, RFI and submittal management), and project closeout (punch list, occupancy permit, warranty administration, and handover documentation).

PDC provides a dedicated project manager who acts as your full-time representative on site — the single person accountable for every contractor, every cost, and every milestone.

Papagayo Design Center assumes the role of leader and manager of the team of architects and engineers assigned to develop all activities required — from master planning and conceptual designs, through construction drawings, contracting construction companies, and construction completion — pursing the best interests of the Owner/Developer as its representative.

With more than 45 years of working experience in engineering and project management, and a well-developed project management delivery system that follows Project Management Institute (PMI) project management procedures, we provide focused project direction, develop disciplined team frameworks, and constant project vigilance. Our system enables us to deliver the financial security and risk management demanded by large and complex projects today.

Design Process Management, Budget Control & Value Engineering

Design Coordination · Cost Control · Constructability

Design management has become the most important component of the project management delivery system. If a project's design is carefully managed to ensure it is consistent with the owner's vision, aesthetics, functionality, scope, quality, schedule, and budget, then the construction process becomes a less complex execution procedure.

Architectural design review and constructability coordination is a key part of pre-construction. PDC reviews the architectural drawings not to correct the architect, but to add value — identifying design details that can be simplified, coordinated, or refined to make the project easier to build, more efficient to construct, and less costly without compromising quality or design intent. This collaborative review process results in drawings that are cleaner, more buildable, and less prone to field conflicts.

Engineering management and review — whether PDC is providing the engineering directly (structural, civil, electrical, mechanical) or coordinating with the client's engineers — follows the same principle. We review all engineering construction drawings across all disciplines, coordinate between them, identify conflicts early, and ensure the full set is coordinated, complete, and ready for permitting and construction. When PDC provides the engineering, this is handled internally; when the client has their own engineers, we act as the technical reviewer and coordinator.

Value engineering is integrated throughout the pre-construction process. PDC systematically reviews the project scope, specifications, and design decisions to identify opportunities to achieve the same result at lower cost or with better constructability — always protecting the quality and design vision the owner is investing in.

Permitting process oversight — whether PDC is managing the permit process directly or coordinating with the client's permitting team — is reviewed and tracked during pre-construction to ensure all submissions are timely, complete, and aligned with the construction start schedule. We monitor the institutional approvals pipeline so that construction is not delayed by permit gaps.

Cost Estimating & Budgeting

Preliminary Estimates · Detailed Budgets · Contingencies

Providing accurate, timely cost estimations, schedules, and budgets — from planning the design process through the construction phase — is essential in successfully managing complex projects. It gives the owner an opportunity to make intelligent, informed decisions at critical stages throughout the life of the project.

PDC employs proven software and management systems including WBS, Microsoft Project, Cost Control/Cost Projection software, Autocad, Civil 3D, and Revit — monitoring all project activities, generating detailed budget and cash flow reports, Gantt charts, PERT organization charts, and resource allocation schedules. Project costs and schedules are constantly back-checked against the control budget baseline for strict adherence.

Risk Management

Identification · Mitigation · Contingency Planning

Clear understanding of project constraints and weaknesses facilitates a risk management program with appropriate responses to diminish risk. More than 25 years of work experience in the Pacific Coast with hotels, clubs, residential buildings, and related urban development infrastructure projects allows us to foresee future problems and plan appropriate mitigation strategies.

Project Team Management

Roles · Communication · Performance

We have a strong conviction that the best way to achieve success is through teamwork. The owner's team, design team, and contractor team are coordinated by the project manager through different management tools to pursue a smooth development of all project tasks toward a common objective.

Bidding and Contracting

Bidding · Negotiations · Contracting · Procurement

Mastered through various management techniques and strengthened with the experience of having worked with most of the major consultants, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in the country. Invited participants are carefully selected based on past experiences. We have worked with AIA Contract Documents (American Institute of Architects) for purchasing and contracting.

Construction Management Services

Schedule · Quality · Safety · Reporting

PDC specializes in project and construction management. We provide the leadership to manage the design and construction processes with efficient, disciplined procedures, offering a level of specialized technical expertise.

As the owner's representative, PDC directs and coordinates all activities of the design and construction phases. All communications among the owner, construction contractors, technical inspectors, and the design team are funneled through the PDC team to guarantee quick, efficient decision-making and a single source of accountability.

The underlying principle of the "team approach" is that when the owner, design team, systems engineers, technical inspection team, construction manager, general contractor, key trade-contractors, and procurement manager work toward a common goal directed by a consistent management process, the results are predictable and successful.

The PDC Project delivery methodology is based on a pro-active system based on the Project Management Institute (PMI) processes areas which constantly places the project focus and ownership's objectives at the forefront.

Job Cost Accounting & Project Cost Control

Tracking · Forecasting · Change Orders

The key to good project cost accounting and cost control is not only knowing what you have spent to-date, but also knowing what you have committed to, control of all change orders, and updated projections of completed cost. PDC generates detailed job accounting cost reports and monthly project cost control reports. We establish the UNIFORMAT construction activity code through the entire project process for precise cost control and accounting to ensure efficient use of ownership investment. Periodic reports are issued in a customized format so all project stakeholders receive accurate, timely, and summarized reports.

Planning & Scheduling

Milestones · Critical Path · Resource Allocation

More than 45 years dealing with Costa Rican consultants, construction companies, subcontractors, suppliers, and workers has given us extensive knowledge to plan and schedule projects with realistic timing and sequencing that are achievable. PDC manages the entire project schedule from conceptual design to construction completion punch list via a proactively imposed project scheduling system.