Joseline Castillo
Architectural Designer

At Cuhaci Peterson, our team is made up of talented individuals whose passions go far beyond their professional roles. Joseline Castillo, an architectural designer in our Philadelphia office, is one such standout, balancing her love for design with a commitment to wheelchair basketball and adaptive sports.

Joseline’s path to architecture was shaped by her upbringing around development projects and her fascination with the intersection of art and science. “My family works in development, so I grew up immersed in it. Architecture is a perfect mix of art and science, which has always fascinated me,” Castillo said. Her role at Cuhaci Peterson involves contributing to a variety of projects, depending on production needs — a testament to her adaptability and collaborative spirit.

When Castillo isn’t working on designs, she is often found on the basketball court. While she enjoys a range of adaptive sports such as cycling and sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball has become a defining passion. Introduced to the sport by volleyball teammates, Joseline immediately fell in love with it after just one summer practice. “It was fun, and I just kept practicing with them,” she recalls. Her dedication has led her to compete in tournaments and join two teams: a coed Division 3 team and a women’s team. Playing on the women’s team has been particularly inspiring, as it brought her into contact with a Paralympian teammate who praised her skill. “She told me I have a good push,” Joseline says with a laugh. “I’m taking that as a huge compliment from someone with her level of experience, she added.”

For Joseline, sports are about much more than physical activity. “It’s very social. You get to meet people, build connections, and be part of a close-knit community,” she explains. Competing against Paralympians and Division 1 teams has been humbling but also motivating. “They were doing circles around us, but it was amazing to see their skill and learn from the experience, Castillo furthered.” Her involvement in sports has also influenced her work as an architect, particularly when it comes to teamwork and feedback. “Being an athlete teaches you to accept and act on feedback, knowing it’s meant to help you improve. That’s something we do in architecture, too,” she continued.

Through adaptive sports, Joseline has also become a strong advocate for breaking stereotypes around disability. “A lot of people see disability first, but sports create a bridge where you connect on a human level. It shifts the focus from what you can’t do to what you can, Castillo commented. This philosophy resonates deeply in her architectural work, where she prioritizes accessibility and inclusive design. “Sports have taught me that there’s always more than one solution to a problem, which is a perspective I bring to my designs, she added.”

Balancing a full-time career with competitive sports isn’t without its challenges, but Joseline has found a way to make it work. “All of us on the team have other commitments — jobs, families, school. It’s about prioritizing and supporting one another,” she says. Her advice for anyone pursuing their passions alongside a demanding career? “Don’t let anything stop you. Look for people who’ve walked a similar path, they can help you navigate challenges. And if you can’t find the path, make it yourself.” Joseline’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, adaptability and a relentless drive to improve. Whether on the court or in the studio, her passion for sports and architecture is a reminder that we are all more than the roles we hold.