Project Overview
Religious structures are often beacons for the community, providing a space for reflection and healing. In McAllen, Tex., which lies just north of the state’s border with Mexico, a new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple sits on a 10.61-acre site and stands 108 ft tall. The temple, which forms an attractive silhouette in the Rio Grande Valley, features a design inspired by both the citrus crops grown in and around McAllen and the Spanish colonial architecture that can be found in the region. The architectural detail in the building includes motifs such as corbels, semicircular arches, barrel vaults, shells, and more. Wells, in partnership with VCBO Architecture and ARW Engineers, collaborated on a precast concrete design for the church that emulates the look and feel of hand-carved limestone while providing superior constructability, reduced maintenance needs, and enhanced long-term durability.
Crisp, Clean, and Calculated
The design approach for the 183rd temple dedicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emphasizes subtractive openings carved from solid-appearing walls, reminiscent of historic adobe structures with thick masonry. Precast concrete allowed the fabrication of intricate three-dimensional patterns, including elaborate quatrefoil floral motifs and deeply shelled niches that would have been nearly impossible to carve in stone while remaining within budget and schedule restraints.
“Precast concrete provides a long-lasting building exterior,” says Corey Bowman, associate with VCBO Architecture. “Going with precast in lieu of other materials, like stone, allowed for a faster construction schedule and provided a beautiful, resilient exterior.”
Working on this project demanded the highest standards of precast concrete craftsmanship to meet the owner’s expectations. As such, each of the 258 architectural precast concrete panels produced was meticulously formed to create crisp edges, clean reveals, and deeply sculpted reliefs with consistent color and texture. The panels’ acid-wash finish was executed to emulate fine-grain limestone, capturing subtle tonal variations that create the authentic hand-carved appearance the structure exudes. Fabricators, mold-makers, and finishers demonstrated exceptional skill throughout, combining artistry with technical precision to produce the intricate detailing required for this type of religious building. The collaboration between the design and fabrication teams helps blur the line between traditional craftsmanship and industrial precision.
Precast concrete helped meet all the project’s goals, including minimal exterior joints, maximum architectural fidelity, and an accelerated enclosure. Numerous additional advantages compared with natural stone cladding were also delivered to the project, such as aesthetic versatility, thermal performance, durability, and sustainability. Speed was a primary benefit, with precast concrete erection completed in just three months. Early enclosure was critical to helping kick off interior finishes such as millwork, stone, decorative painting, and gilding—all of which are extensive processes in these types of religious projects. In the end, all parties worked together to ensure that the architectural intent of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was fully realized while maintaining production feasibility and installation efficiency.
“The temple’s design not only honors regional architecture but fulfills the client’s spiritual vision—delivering a sacred space of timeless beauty and quiet grandeur,” Bowman says. “By utilizing precast concrete, the project team achieved an unparalleled level of sculptural complexity and precision, allowing this sacred structure to stand as both a cultural landmark and a testament to innovation in architectural concrete.”
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013. |