This article frames phenomena relating to knowledge transfer about construction in Latin America through the history of remote exchanges and correspondence between Félix Candela and Jaime Perea. Together they contributed by introducing parabolic shells in Cali, Colombia; Perea perfected his technical knowledge by corresponding with Candela. This article provides an account of the professional context in Colombia, which is characterized by competition between engineers to have the most innovative projects. It is possible to understand this case as existing within a professional field that, through transnational networks, quickly integrated the latest international advances.