The temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are massive structures with soaring steeples and multiple rooms to accommodate the congregations’ unique ordinances. As a Haskell Project Superintendent with a civil engineering background, José Luis Castillo loves the challenge.

As superintendent, Castillo oversees the concrete work on the building's structures and the high-quality finishes within each temple, including ornate custom facades, custom chandeliers, fixtures and fittings, art glass, brass railings and other high-end features.

“Working in temples is special because you meet very professional people in all areas and disciplines, both religious and construction,” he said. “You learn about the culture, and you adapt ecclesiastical processes and needs to a very detailed functional system of finishes, as well as the logistics of their processes, until you satisfy their daily needs for their people.”

Haskell recently finished the new temple in Puebla, Mexico, and is beginning work on the Benemerito temple in Mexico City.

“We’ve found that people with an industrial background excel in temple work because they’re accustomed to the skill and patience required to produce that level of precision,” said Bill Rudder, Haskell Vice President and Religious & Cultural Market Leader. “He’s very patient and methodical. He has a broad view, and he is great with our client. They have complete trust in him.”

Castillo was born and raised in Mexico City. As a boy, he liked drawing houses and buildings.

“In high school, I took some technical drawing classes, and there I discovered my affinity for construction drawings,” Castillo said.

He earned a degree in civil engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife of 25 years, Yesika, live in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. They have three grown children, including a son who is a Haskell Assistant Project Manager.

He enjoys civil engineering because it can be applied to many specialties, such as mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical installations, topography and the construction processes of different types of buildings.

“That made me extremely passionate about making this decision in my life,” he said. “I like to discover everything that can be made from paper to construction and the challenges faced to see it functional and safe.”

In addition to temples, Castillo was project manager for expanding Impossible Foods’ heme facility for plant-based protein products.

Before coming to Haskell, Castillo was a senior construction manager for General Motors in Mexico, Daimler Trucks and Ford.

Construction manager Waldo Salado said Castillo is deeply committed to his projects, very available to his team and focused on optimal performance.

“It’s José Luis’s multi-faceted construction experience that makes him especially valuable on a project,” Salado said. “His experience at General Motors, in particular, taught him ways to plan and integrate teams that give added value to the Haskell projects.

“It’s that previous experience, in combination with the civil area, that helps José Luis to provide field solutions with technical support that many of our engineers cannot necessarily give because they are limited to a single specialty.”

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