RSA   ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO

 Luis is a highly skilled and experienced with demonstrated success in international leisure, residential and commercial projects. Proven capabilities in managing a portfolio of complex clients and projects in new destinations, from inception through construction and project closeout. Bridging communication between clients, other technical disciplines and contractors; Luis has a demonstrated ability to establish and manage teams, focus on objectives and deliver projects on time and within budget. Knowledgeable of U.S. construction techniques, as well as their adaptation and application to international development destinations. 

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EXPERIENCE

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RSA Design Group, San José, Costa Rica, 2002 to Present

Principal and Design Director

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•Established a full-service office using U.S. standards infused with local practices. Incorporated senior architects and established relationships with consultant firms. Additional responsibilities included:

•Design Director, Business Development, Client Management and Contract Negotiation

•Established specifications and drawing standards 

•Expanded office from six to 50 employees

•Initiated lifestyle Interior Design and Furniture and Furnishings profit centers

•Liaison between clients and regulatory agencies and officials

•Designed and built ultra-luxurious, multi-million dollar leisure homes

•Designed and built mid to high-rise leisure condominium projects, including the highest residential building in Costa Rica

•Incorporated general contractors to establish an award-winning concrete construction system 

•Major resort master planning and residential “built for sale” product design (including Red Frog Beach, Panama)

 

Pellas Development Group, Costa Rica/Nicaragua, 2008-2011 

Design Director and Project Manager

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In-house architect for the ownership/developer team. Reported directly to the CEO. Managed a multi-tiered architectural team for the master planning of a 1,500 hectare (3,700 acre) development in Northern Costa Rica and an 800 hectare (1900 acre) development in Southern Nicaragua. Responsibilities included:

•Master planning and design standards and guidelines (EDSA)

•Established criteria and coordination of infrastructure with local and international engineering firms (SACMAG, LanganEngineering)

•Entitlement and permit process coordination and supervision

•Leisure residential product development (FAB Studio)

•Ultra-luxury hospitality design (boutique hotel) (HKS/Paul Duessing/SWA)

•Budget, schedule, and executive management reports

•Write RFP’s, review proposals and contract negotiation

•Hired, mentored and managed in-house design and production staff 

•Supervised and coordinated U.S. multidisciplinary design teams

•Construction code interpretation and translation for U.S. consulting firms 

•Construction observation -organized team and established Construction Administration report standards.

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Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Herradura, Costa Rica, 1996-2004 

Design Director and Project Manager

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•In-house Architect, Project Manager and Design Director for the owner of an 800 hectare (1900 acre) master planned community. Developed a hybrid construction system which incorporated new concrete insulated panel technology with existing local construction methods. Considered the most successful development in Costa Rica that also raised the bar for leisure design as well as energy efficient construction standards. Implemented design/build strategies and obtained construction permits to satisfy an aggressive development schedule. 

•Designed, developed prototypes and built over 1,200,000 sqftof award-winning leisure residential product, infrastructure and landscaping

•Managed the design, successful permitting and construction observation of the first world-class sports fishing marina in Costa Rica

 

Graeber, Simmons & Cowan, Austin, Texas, 1991-1995

Project Manager and Designer

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•Selected as part of the first architectural team to train in CAD. Designed major higher education projects; in-house competition winner for the St Edward’s University recreation center. Designer facilities the Motorola Oak Hill Campus. Selected as the firm’s representative to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and community and business development in South San Antonio. Project Manager for the first private toll road development in Texas. ADA code “specialist”.

 

Moore/WeinrichArchitects, Brunswick, Maine, 1987-1991

Team Captain and Project Manager for K-12 and higher education facilities for the University of Maine and various school districts. Construction Administration and Owner representative in school project construction. Building code “specialist”.

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EDUCATION

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Texas, Austin, 1984

Universidad Autonoma de Centroamerica, San José, Costa Rica, 1980.

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SKILLS

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100% fluent in Spanish and English 

Bi-cultural: Born in the United States, educated in Costa Rica and the U.S. and worked in both countries.

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Selected Projects

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Master Planned Developments

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•Guacalito de la Isla, Rivas, Nicaragua (800 hectares)

•Santa Elena Coastal Development, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (1500 hectares)

•Red Frog Beach and Marina, Isla Bastimento, Panama (700 hectares)

•Lago Ilopango, El Salvador (100 hectares)

•Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica (800 hectares)

 

Mixed-Use Commercial

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•Pueblo Guacalito, Nicaragua

•Red Frog Marina, Panama

•Los Sueños Marina, Costa Rica

 

Mid and High-Rise Residential

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•Vista Las Palmas Condominium, Jacó, Costa Rica

•Vistamar Condominium, Jacó, Costa Rica 

•JacoBeach Towers, Jacó, Costa Rica

•Vista Azul, Jacó, Costa Rica.

 

Industrial

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•Next Gen Oil Recovery Unit, Limón, Costa Rica

•Tech Point Industrial Park, El Coyol, Costa Rica.

 

Residential and Hospitality (Custom homes, multi-family, boutique hotels)

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•Guacalito de la Isla, Nicaragua

•Santa Elena Coastal Development, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

•Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

•Los Sueños Resort and Marina, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica.

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