afaconsult is an engineering practice where we promote a philosophy of integrated design as a way to improve the final result. We started operations in 1985 providing engineering services for public to private works, mainly large public, residential and industrial buildings, and developing activities in rehabilitation, expert inspection, and consultancy.

Rui Furtado holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (1982) and is a Structural Engineering Specialist recognised by the Portuguese Engineers Association. He has nearly 40 years of experience in design and construction, with a professional career focused on the general coordination and direction of complex projects and is frequently invited to lecture and speak at universities and conferences.

Throughout his career, he has combined a strong structural engineering background with a particular interest in architecture and innovation, promoting a consistent integration between these disciplines in project development.

He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afaconsult and a reference shareholder. Within the current leadership transition plan, he focuses on project follow-up and on supporting the company’s strategic development.

His work has been recognised with several awards, including the Secil Civil Engineering Prize (2005) with Braga Municipal Stadium and the ECCS Steel Design Award (2017), awarded for the MAAT Museum project.

Marisa Ferreira holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minho (1998) and a Master’s in Civil Engineering (2001) with a specialization in structures and foundations. She began her professional career as a structural designer.

She has been part of Afaconsult since 2020 as a Project Manager and, since 2025, serves as a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

She works as a Project Manager, with experience in large-scale projects, ensuring the technical coordination of multidisciplinary teams and the follow-up of the different project stages.

In parallel, she oversees the production area and leads the team of project managers, maintaining close engagement with clients and architectural teams.

In 2023, she was awarded the Secil Civil Engineering Prize for the structural design of the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, becoming the first woman to receive this award in nearly 30 years.

Miguel Pereira holds a degree in Civil Engineering (Structures) from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, completed with distinction. He joined Afaconsult in 2003 as a Structural Engineer and has been, since 2025, a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

He is involved in some of the most complex structural projects, promoting close collaboration with architectural teams, and maintains a strong interest in research and innovation, with close links to academia.

Alongside his technical activity, he oversees the Commercial and Marketing areas, contributing to the company’s positioning and client relationships, and is responsible for Innovation and Technological Development, promoting the integration of new approaches and solutions in project development.

His work has been recognised with several awards, including the ECCS Steel Design Award (2017) for the MAAT Museum project and the Secil Universities Prize (2003).

Rita Castro holds a master’s degree in civil engineering – Transportation Infrastructure from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (2008). She joined Afaconsult as a civil engineer and worked as a Project Manager until 2015.

Since then, she has taken on management responsibilities and is currently responsible for the financial and administrative areas.

She has been, since 2025, a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, with responsibilities covering finance, human resources, administrative services and facilities.

Carlos Almeida holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering – Fluids and Heat, and Building Thermodynamics - from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (1999). He began his professional career in 2000 in the field of HVAC systems and thermal behaviour of buildings and joined Afaconsult in 2004.

He has been, since 2025, a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors, remaining actively involved in project development.

He leads the Mechanical Installations team, with responsibility for the design, coordination and follow-up of complex projects, with a particular focus on HVAC systems, energy efficiency and sustainability, within multidisciplinary teams.

Paulo Silva holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (1991) and began his professional career in the same year as a plumbing and fire suppression designer, working also on water and drainage urban infrastructures. He joined Afaconsult in 1994, when he founded the Hydraulic Installations Department.

He has been, since 2025, a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors, remaining actively involved in project development.

He leads the Hydraulic Installations team, with responsibility for the design, coordination and follow-up of complex projects developed within multidisciplinary teams.

Rodrigo Andrade e Castro holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (1987). He began his professional career in 1989 as a structural engineer at AFA – Consultores de Engenharia, Lda, a role he combined with technical direction for the construction of fuel stations.

Between 1999 and 2005, he assumed the role of Head of Production, with overall responsibility for managing technical and human resources, adapting teams to the specific objectives of each project and to the planning and strategy defined by the management.

Since 2005, he has carried out cross-disciplinary coordination roles, with responsibilities covering overall planning, profitability and the organisation of teams across the different disciplines.

He is currently the head of the Structures discipline and leads the team, ensuring workload allocation, compliance with overall planning and the application of required technical procedures.

Raul Serafim holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, with a specialisation in Energy Management and Use. He began his professional career in 1990 as a researcher at INESC, working in the fields of energy management and intelligent buildings, and later completed a PhD in Artificial and Natural Lighting at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Since 1991, he has worked as a consultant, auditor and designer in the fields of electrical installations and safety systems, with a strong interest in innovation and in the development of integrated solutions, particularly in lighting design, applied to technically demanding projects.

He currently leads the Electrical and Telecommunications Installations team, being responsible for the technical coordination of the discipline and for the development of projects within multidisciplinary teams.

Maria da Luz Santiago holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto and began her professional career in 1998 as a design engineer. She has completed several postgraduate courses in Fire Safety Engineering and concluded, in 2010, a master’s degree in urban Fire Safety at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Coimbra.

Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in the development of Fire Safety projects for complex buildings of different typologies, including cultural facilities, healthcare buildings, industrial facilities, data centres, residential developments, hotels and office buildings.

She is currently responsible for the Fire Safety discipline at Afaconsult, ensuring the technical coordination of the specialty and actively contributing to the planning and development of projects within multidisciplinary teams.