Papagayo Design Center is the leading project management, master planner & urban design, engineering & architecture firm for luxury residential and hospitality developments along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast — with over 45 years of combined expertise, 200+ completed projects, 880+ hectares master planned, 150+ km of infrastructure roads designed, and a track record that includes participation in the construction management of Marriott-branded resort hotels, CocoBay Estates, El Diamante, La Punta de Papagayo and some of Guanacaste's most iconic developments.
Papagayo Design Center has built its reputation over four decades through direct, personal involvement in every project — from the largest resort master plans in Guanacaste to individual luxury residences along the Pacific Coast.
The numbers below reflect combined output across PDC's full team — José Rodolfo Ortiz's 45-year career in large-scale engineering and project management, and José Pablo Ortiz's six-year tenure directing a leading Pacific Coast architecture and engineering practice.
Our work spans every scale of development: from single-family residences and boutique hotel expansions, to multi-hundred-hectare master plans that define entire resort communities. Each engagement is handled with the same discipline, attention to detail, and commitment to the client's vision.
The data shown represents designed and developed built area, completed projects, and active engagements — concrete outputs, not estimates. This is the foundation we bring to every new client relationship.
Papagayo Design Center's story is inseparable from the story of Guanacaste's development as a world-class tourism and residential destination — from the first luxury resorts on the Península de Papagayo to the master-planned communities reshaping the coastline today.
880+ hectares master planned · 150+ km of resort roads designed · 200+ projects delivered. Each milestone below represents a real project and a step in the firm's evolution — building the capabilities, relationships, and local expertise that define PDC today.
Papagayo Design Center is a team of professionals who have spent their careers building Guanacaste's most significant residential and hospitality projects — personally involved from the first site visit to the final punch list. Our clients work directly with the principals, not delegated to junior staff.
Our CEO, Jose Rodolfo Ortiz, M.S.C.E., PE IC-3150, is a civil engineer graduated from the University of Costa Rica, with a major in Structural Design; and obtained a Master's degree in Construction Engineering & Management at Purdue University, Indiana, USA. He is a professional engineer register at the Board of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica, with License Registration # IC-3150, since 1982.
After graduation, he worked in structural design and construction management in New Orleans, Louisiana, then he returned to his home country, Costa Rica, and performed executive positions as project manager director and general company management (CEO) in well known companies in San Jose.
In 2001, he moved to Guanacaste, and became the Director of the Construction Management team for Constructora EDIFICAR S. A., in charge of the construction of the Hotel Four Seasons Resort, in Peninsula de Papagayo.
After completion of the Four Seasons Hotel, he moved to work with Construction Management Services S. A., a project management organization branch of Ecodesarrollo Papagayo, in charge of all development projects in Peninsula de Papagayo, as Director of Cost Estimating & Cost Control, executing the project management of the following iconic developments in Peninsula de Papagayo:
Our history…
In 2006 Mr. Ortiz started his own project management firm, LCP International S. A., located in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, and lead the design and construction team for the following projects, among others:
In the middle of the 2010, Mr. Ortiz created a branch company to expand the services provided, specialized in land planning, master planning, and urban development infrastructure design: Papagayo Design Center S. A., also located in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, firm that developed among other projects, the following designs and construction drawings for resort residential and touristic projects in Guanacaste:
As General Director of PrendasLoria Architecture and Engineering (2020–2026), José Pablo led one of the Pacific Coast's most active architecture and engineering practices — directing 120+ projects totaling 51,000+ m² of built area across luxury residences, condominium developments, boutique hospitality projects, and master plan coordination in Nosara, Guiones, Ostional, Samara, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, and surrounding coastal communities. He managed the complete project cycle for each engagement: architecture and engineering drawings, building permit processing and institutional approvals, construction bidding and contract negotiation, on-site inspections, project delivery, and closeout.
Alongside his engineering work, José Pablo led Olivia Interior Designs Ltda. as CEO and partner — a residential interior design firm operating across Guanacaste and San José. He directed the company's general operations, client acquisition, and FF&E procurement, ensuring 15 high-end residential projects were delivered on schedule and to client satisfaction.
At Papagayo Design Center, José Pablo leads the residential division — covering Architecture & Engineering, Project Management, Construction Drawings & Building Permits, Construction Management & Delivery, and Construction Bidding & Contracting. He also directs the US-standard home inspection service and the curated architectural partner network, ensuring every client has the right design team and the right oversight throughout their project.
Commercial executive with a six-year track record leading business development, strategic negotiation, and commercial growth across the hospitality and trade sectors. Experienced in managing hotel and commercial projects from concept development through implementation, with a strong focus on operational efficiency, revenue generation, and long-term business expansion.
Previously served as Commercial Manager at Modulex and LWS, leading more than 1,000 commercial projects at national and international level — including 50+ hospitality projects across Central America and beyond. Combines technical expertise from Industrial Engineering with executive-level commercial vision, specialized in identifying growth opportunities, structuring business models, and delivering projects under high-performance standards.
At PDC, Andrés leads client acquisition and business development while taking on a growing internal management role — overseeing the company's portfolio of active projects and clients, reviewing project progress, and ensuring every engagement moves forward with the coordination and attention it deserves. He serves as the key link between commercial growth and operational execution, keeping clients, teams, and deliverables aligned across the organization.
Julian Bose Rembert is a licensed home inspector under the Home Inspector Licensure Board (HILB) — North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal. He brings American inspection standards and professional digital reporting methodology to the Guanacaste real estate market, serving buyers, sellers, investors, and real estate agents across the Pacific Coast.
Using professional inspection software, Julian delivers comprehensive, photo-documented digital reports in US format — the same standard expected in any North American real estate transaction — within 48 hours of the inspection.
Beyond home inspections, Julian is expanding his scope within PDC — collaborating across Project Management, Construction Technical Inspections, Construction Bidding & Contracting, and Construction Management & Delivery. Working alongside the senior team, he contributes to keeping projects on track, supporting quality control in the field, and assisting with the coordination and execution of client engagements from bidding through completion.
With more than 45 years of experience developing projects with several consultant and design firms, our architects and engineers are complemented by a team of expert professionals in every specialty of engineering, architecture, and environmental science.
This network allows us to provide services in almost any type of construction development in hospitality, residential, and commercial sectors — and to attend several large projects simultaneously without compromising quality or attention.
Curated network of top architectural firms across Guanacaste — matched to your aesthetic, budget, and program. We manage the relationship from concept to construction drawings.
Expert structural designers for seismic zone compliance, reinforced concrete, steel structures, and complex foundation systems.
SETENA environmental impact studies, LEED Certification consultants for US Green Building Council certification, and wildlife management specialists.
Geotechnical studies, geological investigation, hydrology analysis, soil testing laboratories, and water well specialists across Costa Rica's Pacific Coast.
Mechanical (HVAC, plumbing), electrical, and telecommunications design specialists — energy efficiency, solar integration, and smart building systems.
Established relationships with CFIA, municipalities, ICE, AyA, MINAE, SINAC, ICT, and INVU — enabling efficient institutional consultation and permit processing.
Whether you're buying property for the first time in Costa Rica, planning a luxury residence, or developing the next landmark resort in Guanacaste — PDC has the experience, the team, and the network to be your trusted partner from day one.