There are moments in an institution’s history that redefine its trajectory. This is one of them. We are thrilled to announce that the construction of our New Campus buildings has officially begun, marking a historic transition to our future home in the mountains of San Isidro de Heredia.
This incredible milestone comes at a time of deep gratitude and celebration. While our community was busy honoring the achievements of the Class of 2026, our leadership team finalized the construction strategy and signed the official contract with renowned builders Van der Laat & Jimenez. The contract, previously approved by the UWC Costa Rica Board of Trustees, was signed during an inspiring meeting with representatives from the ICC Project Management team, the Predictabill Legal team, and our Board Members and lead supporters.
A Dream Years in the Making
Since we opened our doors in 2006, more than 1,600 alums have experienced our experiential learning model at our Santa Ana campus. Thanks to the generosity of Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo, we began dreaming of a purpose-built campus completely aligned with our mission, principles, and values.
This new campus is designed to be a living laboratory where our community will be directly immersed in the restoration and protection of 96 acres (39 hectares) of land for conservation and educational purposes.
Our new infrastructure sets a powerful precedent for sustainable construction, pursuing both global LEED Certification and Costa Rica’s national RESET Certification. It ensures our learning and living spaces exist in perfect reciprocity with our natural tropical surroundings.
What This Means for the Future of UWC Costa Rica
For change-makers who dream of studying abroad, this expansion elevates the experience of attending a residential high school in Costa Rica. As a premier, world-respected IB high school, UWC Costa Rica combines a rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Program with a vibrant bilingual environment.
Our new home will provide an unmatched setting for young people from over 70 nationalities to live, learn from nature, and learn from each other. This milestone ensures that our physical spaces will fully support our mission to cultivate the passion and ability in young people to serve humanity and our planet.
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our Board, supporters, and partners for locking arms with us to bring this vision to life. The future is being built right now!