Pure Engineering

Jaime Castaneda, P.E. is a family man, electrical engineer and enthusiast of "current" events.

Jaime Castaneda, P.E. is a family man, an electrical engineer, and enthusiast of "current" events.

At HFA, Jaime leads the electrical engineering team through their day to day duties which include producing efficient, high quality designs and coordinating with the multiple disciplines on a variety of projects. His primary role, however, is to make sure the core of electrical engineering stays true.  Each discipline at HFA has an important role in the lifecycle of a building design... electricals' is to light it up and breathe life into it - to flip the switch.

He says, "Electrical engineers must maintain a balance between providing a facility with the power it needs , where it needs it, while also containing and safeguarding that power and the people who interact with it.  Electricity makes everything around us work, but it can also be a dangerous hazard. Our job is to harness its power safely."

A key factor in HFA's electrical program is integrating sustainable design.  LED lighting and advanced lighting control systems makes it easy to give building owners huge energy savings while improving lighting quality, overall user experience and interaction in the spaces they occupy.

LED light fixtures equipped with individually addressable wireless smart sensors allowed HFA to produce a dramatically improved lighting experience for one of their top clients. HFA remodeled several of Walmart's Home Offices replacing thousands of basic fluorescent lights with individually addressable LED light fixtures.  Walmart later reported a 70% energy reduction due to the efficiency of the LED fixtures and the effectiveness of the advanced control system.

His favorite project to date though? A Frito-Lay production plan addition for their 'Scoops' line. Jaime wrote the specs, designed a substation, and gained experience in engineering with medium voltage verses the standard low voltage which is common in most buildings. "It wasn't a flashy cover page project, it was just pure electrical engineering at its best. I just got to tear into it!" he laughs.

At the end of the day Jaime will tell you he's a blessed and lucky man who made it here by the grace of God and the help of many great people in his life.  A Honduras native turned Walton Scholarship recipient turned husband of Jennifer and father of six who works a mile down the road from the little five and dime owned by the family who helped change his life.

Jaime Castaneda, P.E., can be contacted at 479.273.7780 ext. 336.

Written by
Kaleigh Evans

Latest Industrial Insights

Flexible Design Can Future-Proof U.S. Cold Storage Real Estate

Today’s fast-evolving automation and sustainability trends require careful planning and an emphasis on adaptability.

Future-Ready Cold Storage: Developing Smarter, Cleaner, and More Competitive Facilities

The U.S. cold storage market is booming—but most facilities are aging, inefficient, and unfit for what’s next. As automation, sustainability, and skyrocketing demand collide, one thing’s clear: it’s time to design smarter.

HFA Welcomes Ana Larranaga as New Client Partnerships Lead

The industrial sector is moving fast—and so is HFA. Meet Ana Larranaga, our newest Client Partnerships Lead, bringing deep connections, architectural experience, and a passion for helping clients grow.

Ramping up Asset Value in a Tighter Industrial Market

Now that the post-pandemic industrial boom is winding down, making buildings stand out in the marketplace can take some extra effort. Here are tips from HFA Vice President of Industrial + Logistics Marc Jennings (NCARB) and Senior Architect / Client Lead Andrew Akerhielm (AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C)

The Future of Industrial Design: A Conversation with Marc Jennings

Marc Jennings, NCARB, HFA’s Vice President of Industrial + Logistics recently sat down to discuss how the logistics sector continues to evolve with the changing demands in the marketplace and how AEC firms can better meet those current and future needs.

Designing for Future Flexibility: A+E Best Practices for Industrial Development: Webinar

HFA hosted a webinar discussing how to maximize the potential of logistics projects with flexible design practices.
newsletter

Never miss an update.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.