Architectural Designer & Construction Economist

Léo
Nicolas

Six years shaping luxury residential and hospitality spaces — from concept to construction. Expert in BIM workflows, technical documentation, and on-site execution across France, the Caribbean, and beyond.

6+
Years Experience
$20M+
Projects Delivered
3
Languages
Léo Nicolas

Precision in design,
fluency in construction

Based in Saint Martin and relocating to the United States, I bring a rare combination of architectural creativity and economic rigor — honed over six years across luxury residential, hospitality, and public sector projects in France and the Caribbean.

My practice bridges the gap between design vision and buildable reality. From authoring complex BIM models in Revit and Allplan to managing full-envelope (TCE) cost analysis, I ensure every project is as feasible as it is exceptional.

I thrive on technically challenging work — coordinating MEP systems, navigating coastal and aviation compliance, and steering projects through permitting and on-site supervision with equal confidence.

Software & Tools

Revit Allplan AutoCAD MIAO BIM Methodology

Expertise

Construction Administration Cost Estimating Quantity Takeoffs Technical Documentation ADA Guidelines Value Engineering LEED Principles

Project Types

Luxury Residential Hospitality Public Sector New Construction Renovation

Languages

FrenchNative
EnglishFluent
ItalianConversational

Luxury spaces, built with precision

Ark Residential — full building rendering
Ark Residential — rooftop pool aerial rendering
Ark Residential — rooftop pool sunset rendering

Ark Building — Residential

Cole Bay, Sint Maarten  ·  $20M+ Budget  ·  ATYS Architecture

4-story luxury tower with 19 apartment units (70–120 m²), rooftop pool, and underground parking. Full architectural production, MEP coordination, and compliance with aviation and coastal regulations near Princess Juliana Airport.

Under Construction
Ark Building Commercial — exterior night view
Ark Building Commercial — rooftop terrace
Ark Building Commercial — luxury interior

Ark Building — Commercial

Cole Bay, Sint Maarten  ·  $20M+ Budget  ·  ATYS Architecture

3-story mixed-use anchor building housing Hermès, Chanel, Goldfinger Jewelry, fine dining, and residential. Full architectural scope including MEP coordination and permitting documentation.

Completed
Luxury Villas — villa with pool aerial view
Luxury Villas — villa aerial view
Luxury Villas — villa detail view

Luxury Villas Portfolio

Lyon, France  ·  Groupe DCP

High-volume portfolio of individual luxury villas. Full 3D modeling, TCE cost analysis, quantity surveying, and subcontractor coordination for the Lyon region.

Completed
Public Sector Renovations — alpine hotel exterior
Public Sector Renovations — snow dome detail
Public Sector Renovations — dome suite with hot tub at night

Public Sector Renovations

Chambéry, France  ·  Revolta Blaudeau

Large-scale renovation and insulation tenders for multi-family complexes and hotels in the French Alps. Scope focused on technical specifications (CCTP), price analysis, and labor cost modeling — achieving 95%+ estimate accuracy. Photos show the completed buildings on which Revolta Blaudeau performed renovation works.

Completed

Design studies, built from first principles

Selected work from architectural school — a town hall restructuration and extension project demonstrating design thinking, technical documentation, and full architectural production at academic level.

Mairie de Pringy — Board 1
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Mairie de Pringy — Board 1 Site plan · Floor plans · Renderings · Elevations
Mairie de Pringy — Board 2
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Mairie de Pringy — Board 2 Sections · Facades · Construction details
PDF 11 pages
Open PDF
Full Drawing Set — PY 508 Complete plans, sections & elevations at scale

Built over six years
across two continents

June 2023 — Present

Senior Architectural Designer & Drafter

ATYS Architecture  ·  Cole Bay, Sint Maarten
  • Lead architectural design and technical drafting for luxury villas, hotels, and high-end rental residences using Allplan
  • Direct on-site construction supervision ensuring structural and aesthetic alignment with blueprints and local codes
  • Produce comprehensive construction documents including floor plans, sections, and technical details
  • Coordinate MEP routing across drawings for seamless integration with architectural design
May 2021 — May 2023

Quantity Surveyor & Project Designer

Groupe DCP  ·  Lyon, France
  • Developed detailed 3D models and blueprints for a high-volume portfolio of individual housing and luxury villas
  • Managed full-scope (TCE) cost analysis and quantity surveying, forecasting project budgets and material requirements
  • Streamlined bidding by authoring clear technical specifications and coordinating subcontractor quotes
Sept 2020 — April 2021

Construction Economist & Estimator

Revolta Blaudeau  ·  Chambéry, France
  • Engineered comprehensive technical specifications (CCTP) for large-scale renovation projects
  • Maintained 95%+ accuracy in project estimates for multi-family residential complexes and hotels
  • Facilitated successful tenders through meticulous price analysis and labor cost modeling
May 2019 — July 2019

Architectural & Cost Estimating Intern

Plenetude  ·  Annecy, France
  • Utilized Revit for 3D modeling and technical documentation across public and private sector projects
  • Performed on-site surveys and architectural measurements for project feasibility

Let's build
something remarkable

Currently based in Saint Martin and actively seeking opportunities in the United States. Open to full-time roles and project-based collaboration in luxury residential, hospitality, and commercial sectors.

Send a Message
Location Saint Martin — relocating to USA
Availability Open to relocation
Languages French · English · Italian