Inside ISG’s Multidisciplinary Approach: Expertise, Collaboration, and Bold Ideas

Multidisciplinary is a buzzword on most architecture or engineering firm websites, used to market firms with a handful of specialty services. ISG truly embraces the word, giving it roots in our approach to design, growth, and driving better outcomes for clients.

With 25 in-house disciplines, including architecture and engineering, planning, project management, interior design, environmental, and technology, ISG brings every aspect of a project together under one diverse team. We prioritize keeping our teams connected so that our clients experience the benefits of diverse expertise working in sync.

What does this level of service variation and collaboration mean for clients? No silos. No handoffs. No stagnant ideas. Just cohesive collaboration that streamlines communication, saves time, reduces costs, and delivers lasting value.

A Story of Intentional Growth and Diversity

ISG began as an engineering firm focused on practicality, performance, and problem-solving. Naturally with this mentality, as client needs expanded, so did we. ISG started in 1973 with two engineers in a basement and today has grown to more than 600 professionals across 18 offices in 8 states. By intentionally adding new areas of expertise, we have grown our ability to fully support every aspect of public and private projects; from project planning and pre-design through permitting, funding, construction documents, and construction oversight.

Our intentional growth and diversity reflect our commitment to our clients, and our ability to anticipate challenges and leverage opportunities. Working together across disciplines also fuels unique project solutions:

• Site and facility design teams work together from day one and share ideas early to shape site grading, landscaping, building massing, user flow and access in ways that result in higher performing, more contextually relevant projects.
• When the project team use proven collaborative processes to stay in sync while focusing on their experience and expertise areas, they deliver better and more timely results.
• A multidisciplinary approach catered to client needs can result in unique services, and for ISG has resulted in having design visualization, funding application assistance, permitting assistance, community engagement, referendum support, and marketing resources all under one roof—helping our partners through each step of bringing their vision to life.

A Unique Approach to Multidisciplinary

Every firm defines multidisciplinary differently. For some, it defines a group of architects and urban designers who collaborate in the same room. For others, it is a word that describes survey and technology teams who share visualizations. ISG’s approach is more comprehensive.

We create an integrated ecosystem of disciplines who work side-by-side to accelerate innovation and eliminate barriers. That means fewer delays, clearer communication, and smarter design decisions.

The value is clear in real moments that matter:

• When an urgent site conflict surfaces during construction, our civil, structural, survey, and landscape experts can respond immediately. With all teams in-house, they can review the issue together, align options, and deliver a coordinated solution that same day—avoiding field delays and saving clients valuable time and cost.
• When a project is contracted for architecture but runs into an unexpected civil challenge, ISG’s civil engineering team can be reached quickly to develop a fast and compliant solution that keeps design moving without adding new consultants or project disruptions.
• When a lead engineer, architect, or planner, is called away on jury duty, another in-house team member with full project context can step in immediately, keeping deliverables on track and avoiding disruptions that would otherwise impact schedules.

These types of real-time touchpoints happen every day at ISG. This approach breaks down barriers, shortens decision cycles, and provides clients with the confidence that challenges will be met with quick, coordinated action.

Added Value Through Ownership Culture

Because ISG is 100% employee-owned and operates as a one-profit center firm, every employee owner is aligned around delivering value through accountability and quality work. Collaboration isn’t an idea; it is an expectation. The result is a client-driven approach that brings clarity, creativity, and momentum from concept through construction.

Bold Ideas for Intentional Design

Bringing so many disciplines together allows ISG to think bigger. Our teams collaborate early and often, listening thoroughly, sharing perspectives, and elevating ideas with information and insight to support confident decision-making.

This range of expertise gives us the capacity to deliver bold ideas, intentional designs, and high-impact solutions. It’s fresh thinking, backed by the information our clients need.

When Expertise Connects, Clients Win

From the first idea to the ribbon cutting, ISG operates as one team. Our multidisciplinary approach strengthens coordination, improves quality, and accelerates timelines. It invites innovation and enhances communication, so projects are designed to serve their communities long into the future.

When expertise connects, creativity thrives, and the client always wins.