Haskell has received the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) Merit Award in the Civic/Assembly category for its design and construction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple in Quito, Ecuador, the organization has announced.

This design-build project was developed with local designer RVC Architects. It was important for the team to create designs inspired by tropical themes and materials to capture qualities native to the location that would be both relaxing and inviting to users. The team used local materials, construction methods and design elements to tropicalize the space’s appearance.

The Temple has become a significant landmark in the City of Quito and the Cumbayá Valley development and a place of spiritual and architectural reference that demonstrates the importance of simplicity, finesse, symmetry, duality and harmony.

“The collaborative mindset and spirit exhibited by these award-winning teams created the environment for innovative designs, clear lines of communication and the whole-team approach necessary to elevate ingenuity and successfully navigate unprecedented challenges,” said Lisa Washington, CAE, DBIA Executive Director and CEO. “DBIA is proud to honor this year’s design-build project and team winners, who are redefining what exceptionalism looks like and advancing the practices of the AEC industry and design-build’s role in our nation’s much-needed infrastructure programs.”