Meet ISG Architect Pam Johnson

As a good listener, ISG Architect Pam Johnson, AIA, translates client ideas into innovative design and enjoys getting to know her fellow ISGers. Get to know Pam by reading this week’s spotlight!

What's your favorite part about working at ISG?

My favorite part about working at ISG is the people. It's great to be able to work with a group of dedicated professionals you genuinely enjoy and can have fun with. As a working mom, I also like the flexibility. ISG understands that sometimes we have to be able to work from home when our children are sick or leave work a little early to attend their activities.

What’s one strength you feel you bring to ISG?

I feel that I'm a good listener. I listen intently to the wants and needs of clients and provide them with a solution that best fits their goals while at the same time incorporating good design. I believe in listening first and making sure project partners feel like they are heard. This allows me to provide my best service and deliver designs that align with their goals.

Why do you enjoy designing spaces?

I like being able to impact people's lives through the spaces they live, work, learn, and play. When a project is complete and we receive feedback from the client about how the space is working out for them, I feel like I’ve made a difference. This is especially the case with PreK-12 education projects. My favorite reaction is that we’ve made a positive change in the way children learn from our thoughtful designs.

What are some things that people don’t know about you?

My husband and I took a mission trip to Taiwan a few years ago. Experiencing another culture is definitely a life-changing experience! While we were there, I designed wall art for a building. We spent time painting and preparing the space to become an orphanage. It involved many long days of hard work, but it was very rewarding looking at the finished product. Our second daughter (Ciana, 7 years old) would later live in that very orphanage for the first five months of her life. We also adopted our oldest daughter (Maya, 14 years old) from China. Since then, I have drawn and painted murals on their walls at home, which is something I found I really enjoy doing through the mission trip.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my family. Whether it is attending my children’s extracurricular activities, playing card and board games, shopping, or taking vacations, I love spending time together. My family and our values are very important to me. I carry them with me throughout everything I do in work and life. I hope to pass the same values down to my children, as my parents passed them down to me.

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