THE STUDIO

A Digital-Nomad Entrepreneurship

Our work only finishes with a satisfied client, on budget and ready to enjoy a dramatic improvement in life quality through a

design-driven solution!


Jaime Correa Vélez Design & Conservation is a studio established in 2007 at Cartagena de Indias and licensed by the Colombian Professional Council of Architecture (CPNAA) to provide design and construction services throughout its territory. Our professional practice is fully proficient in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and up to date with international construction documents standards to provide design services worldwide.


Our CEO has been awarded in architectural design competitions such as “The Caribbean Cultural Park” in Barranquilla (2000) and “The 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games Water Complex” in Cartagena (2003). Partnering with architect Pedro Ibarra Jiménez, he designed the project “Sun Dial Park” in Cartagena in 2000.


During the Covid-19 pandemic the firm transitioned from a traditional permanent office providing architectural services in Colombia to a digital nomad studio with two companies, Jaime Correa Vélez SAS in Cartagena de Indias and Jaime Correa Velez LLC in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Since 2020, we have worked on multiple projects at architectural and urban level in joint ventures with Architecture firms in multiple geographic locations. A strong multicultural team network fluent in English and Spanish, based in the Americas and Europe, now focuses on high end homes design and heritage building conservation.


Design-Driven Solutions


The studio has worked on different project types in Colombia such as housing, hospitality, health facilities, offices, and commercial premises as well as sport, cultural, industrial, and educational institutions.  In 2012 our studio was selected by the Spanish firm BXD Arquitectura as an architectural supervisor of the “Paraíso del Mar” phase of their project “Mar de Indias” in the northern zone of Cartagena. In partnership with architect Alberto Samudio, our CEO designed and supervised the completion of the condominium “House of Viceroy Eslava” for the Constructora Barajas in Cartagena between 2005 and 2009.


In the state of Arkansas, our studio currently limits its professional practice to design-driven homes, including interior design and supervision during the construction with local general contractors in Hot Springs National Park.



Heritage Conservation


Since 2008 the studio developed a master plan for the restoration of Colombian National Historic Landmark San Diego Convent in Downtown Cartagena de Indias, currently hosting the University of Fine Arts of Bolívar. Several components of the master plan have been executed by general contractors under our studio supervision, meeting the country and the city urban heritage ordinances. This project set an important precedent addressing the critical downtown gentrification by bringing a multicultural hub in the heart of the San Diego quarter. Since 2011 we are working on the Restoration Master Plan of the "Seguros Bolívar Building", a Mid Century-Modern residential complex that became the urban gate of Bocagrande, Cartagena's touristic hub, since 1967.


Jaime Correa Vélez

CEO/CDO - Founding Partner


  • Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, 1997
  • Postgraduate Degree in Conservation & Restoration of Architectural Heritage, 1999
  • Staff Professor, 2001-2012

Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, School of Architecture, Colombia

  • Licensed Architect in Colombia since 2000

Professional Council of Architecture (CPNAA), Colombia

  • Verified International Architect in USA since 2025

National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB)

  • Member since 2000.
  • Currently in Bolívar area’s Board of Directors

Colombian Architects Society (SCA)

  • International Associate since 2021

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

  • Expert Member since 2017
  • Voting Member on behalf of Colombia in the International Scientific Committee of Cultural Landscapes (ISCCL) since 2020

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

  • Member since 2023

International Union of Architects, (UIA)

  • Assistant Governor 2019-2020 in Cartagena, Colombia

Rotary International

Jaime Correa Vélez is a licensed architect in Colombia, expert in Conservation and Restoration of Architectural Heritage graduated in 1997 at Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, published author and media contributor in his field. With studies in Education and Innovation/Creation of Technology-based Enterprises, is fully proficient in CAD and BIM. Founder and current CEO of JAIME CORREA VÉLEZ DESIGN & CONSERVATION.


He worked optimizing and improving the quality of the Architecture education in Colombia (2001-2012), teaching over 5000 hours as a staff professor at the Universities Rafael Núñez and Jorge Tadeo Lozano, as well as the Escuela Taller Cartagena de Indias. In 2003 he was appointed in Colombia as an evaluator for the 1st Architecture Education Quality Examination test.


Since 2021 he started an independent professional practice as an international architect upon the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in the United States and is currently under their Architectural Experience Program (AXP) supervision program.


In 2007 Jaime Correa Vélez was nominated as “Architect of the Year” in Bolívar area by the Colombian Architects Society due to his Studio’s successful professional practice over that year. In 2025 he was awarded the “Epifanio Garay Medal” by the University of Fine Arts and Science of Bolívar for his career in architectural design and urban planning in Downtown Cartagena.


Current Location: Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

OUR TEAM