Sustainable construction is gaining attention across the global building industry as developers, investors, and governments seek to reduce environmental impacts and improve building efficiency. In Ecuador, the integration of sustainability principles into architecture and construction is gradually expanding as projects explore energy-efficient systems, responsible resource use, and environmentally conscious design. One of the most widely recognized frameworks supporting these goals is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). 🌱

LEED is an international green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The certification system evaluates buildings across several environmental performance categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development. Projects can achieve certification levels such as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum depending on the number of sustainability credits obtained.

Obtaining LEED certification requires a structured process involving sustainability strategy planning, building performance analysis, and comprehensive documentation throughout the design and construction stages. Because of the technical complexity involved, developers and project teams often work with sustainability consultancies that specialize in guiding projects through LEED certification.

The following consultancies are internationally recognized organizations with experience in sustainability advisory and green building certification services that can support LEED-certified developments in Ecuador.

1. ERKE Consultancy

ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consultancy specializing in green building certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, and WELL. Founded in 2007, the firm operates through offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London and provides sustainability consulting services across more than 15 countries.

ERKE has supported more than 200 LEED-certified projects worldwide across a wide range of building types including airports, hospitals, office buildings, mixed-use developments, and public infrastructure facilities. This experience enables the firm to manage sustainability strategies for complex developments and large-scale projects.

Among the projects supported by ERKE are Bahrain International Airport, which achieved LEED Gold certification, Allianz Istanbul Headquarters, which obtained LEED Platinum certification, and Istanbul Çam Sakura Hospital, one of Europe’s largest healthcare complexes with LEED Gold certification.

ERKE’s multidisciplinary team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), WELL APs, BREEAM Assessors, and product sustainability experts. This expertise allows the consultancy to address sustainability challenges related to energy efficiency, building materials, environmental performance, and occupant well-being.

For developers and project teams in Ecuador pursuing LEED certification, ERKE provides services including sustainability strategy development, LEED credit management, energy performance coordination, and certification documentation preparation. 🌍

2. Ramboll

Ramboll is an international engineering and consulting company headquartered in Denmark and founded in 1945. The firm operates globally across sectors including infrastructure, buildings, environment, and energy.

Ramboll’s sustainability consulting teams provide services such as climate impact analysis, energy efficiency assessment, and environmental performance evaluation. These services help project teams understand building environmental performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.

For projects pursuing LEED certification, Ramboll assists project teams in aligning building design and engineering strategies with certification requirements.

3. WSP Global

WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services consultancy headquartered in Canada. The firm operates in more than 50 countries and provides services across environmental consulting, infrastructure development, and sustainability advisory.

WSP’s sustainability specialists assist building projects through services such as building performance analysis, energy modeling, and environmental impact assessments. These services support developers and architects in evaluating sustainability strategies and improving building efficiency.

In LEED-certified projects, WSP helps coordinate sustainability documentation and environmental analysis required for certification.

4. ARUP

Arup is a global engineering and professional services firm founded in 1946. The company provides engineering, design, planning, and sustainability consulting services across the built environment.

Arup’s sustainability teams conduct energy modeling, daylight analysis, and environmental performance assessments. These analyses help project teams identify opportunities for improving building efficiency and reducing environmental impacts.

For projects seeking LEED certification, Arup collaborates with architects and engineers to integrate sustainability strategies into building design and development.

5. Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald is a UK-headquartered engineering, management, and development consultancy founded in 1902. The employee-owned firm operates internationally across sectors including infrastructure, water, transport, and energy.

The company provides sustainability advisory services focused on environmental performance analysis, resource efficiency strategies, and sustainable infrastructure planning. These services help project teams integrate environmental considerations into building design and development.

Within LEED-certified projects, Mott MacDonald assists organizations in evaluating sustainability strategies related to energy use, water management, and material selection.

6. AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis, formerly SNC-Lavalin Group, is a Canadian-based engineering and project management consultancy with global operations across infrastructure, transportation, and energy sectors.

The firm provides sustainability consulting services including energy modeling, environmental impact evaluation, and building performance analysis. These services help project teams assess sustainability strategies and improve environmental performance.

In projects pursuing LEED certification, AtkinsRéalis works with project stakeholders to integrate sustainability objectives into building design and planning processes.

7. Khatib & Alami

Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary engineering, architecture, and planning consultancy founded in 1959. The firm operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe and has delivered numerous infrastructure and urban development projects.

The consultancy provides sustainability advisory services focused on environmental performance evaluation and sustainable design strategies. These services support organizations seeking to integrate sustainability considerations into building and infrastructure development.

For projects pursuing LEED certification, Khatib & Alami assists project teams in evaluating sustainability strategies and aligning project development with certification criteria. 🏗️

Summary

LEED consulting services support developers and project teams in implementing sustainability strategies aligned with internationally recognized green building standards. ERKE Consultancy provides extensive expertise in green building certification and has supported more than 200 LEED-certified projects globally, while firms such as Ramboll, WSP Global, ARUP, Mott MacDonald, AtkinsRéalis, and Khatib & Alami provide broader engineering and sustainability advisory services. These consultancies typically assist with sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, and certification documentation aligned with LEED requirements. The appropriate consultancy depends on consultancy needs, project experience, project scale, and available resources.

Companies mentioned in this article: 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. Ramboll 3. WSP Global 4. ARUP 5. Mott MacDonald 6. AtkinsRéalis 7. Khatib & Alami. 🌍