We are excited to announce Isaac Johnson‘s one-year anniversary with MWA. Isaac has served as Senior Project Manager for our Housing team, bringing a joyful and hard-working spirit. We are so glad to have him with us and congratulate him on a fantastic year. Below, Isaac reflects on his first year and his life outside of MWA.
ISAAC’S REFLECTIONS ON ONE YEAR WITH MWA
What projects are you working on right now?
Right now, I’m working on Grant Street Apartments and wearing multiple hats as Project Manager and Architect. I’ve enjoyed having a wide reach on this project and others. It enables me to stay engaged with the work at multiple levels and connected to the process of actually making buildings.
What is one lesson or piece of wisdom you learned from a recent project?
One thing I’ve learned recently is how much perspective can shape the design process. People can use the same language or react positively to the same reference while their background and experiences lead them to valuing aspects differently. On a recent project, a client referenced another similar project of ours that they liked. In discussing their preferences, we identified their appreciation for the programmatic success, while our initial understanding was more about the aesthetic. This is why it’s important to ask these deeper questions and investigate further, even when you seemingly already agree.
Internally, I’ve applied this wisdom to management strategies. On a recent townhome project, I trusted a teammate to explore their own direction — one I would not have arrived at alone — and the project became much more interesting because of it. Some of the best ideas come from giving people a framework and giving their unique outlook to room to succeed.
What is one thing you would change about the architectural discipline?
I think the profession has become more siloed over time, especially with digital workflows and remote work. Programs like Revit are incredibly useful, but they can also make the holistic work product feel obfuscated and fragmented. It is more difficult to maintain a shared understanding of the whole project when everyone is working separately. Projects feel more tangible when we work face-to-face and pencil-to-paper.
What’s your favorite thing about working at MWA?
One of my favorite things about working at MWA is the steady and supportive culture. I really appreciate the opportunity to work with senior leadership and learn from the way they approach both projects and the business. Architecture can be a pretty tumultuous profession at times, and there is something reassuring about working with people who are calm, thoughtful, and consistent.
I also appreciate how lean and efficient the firm is. There is a strong focus on doing good work without unnecessary flash, and the culture is genuinely collaborative. People support each other here, and we also have a lot of fun together. It is a great place to show up every day.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
I feel fortunate that I’m able to leave work at the office and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. A big part of that is exercise. I work out almost every day, and that has become one of the most consistent ways I manage stress and reset mentally. I also enjoy traveling: skiing during the winter, going to car shows, and generally spending time outdoors. My wife and I both enjoy traveling whenever we can, and I’m especially looking forward to decompressing while camping this summer.
What are you most excited about in the future of your work in the next few years?
I’m excited about continuing to build, maintain, and rebuild client relationships over the next few years. I enjoy reconnecting with past clients, understanding what they need, and opening the door to the kind of thoughtful work we do at MWA. That process is already starting to happen, and it feels exciting to be more directly involved in those conversations. I’m also looking forward to staying closely connected to the actual work product, from design quality to documentation quality. Having a direct effect on something tangible and built is one of the most rewarding parts of architecture for me.
What is your next career goal that you would like to tackle?
I would like to continue to consistently bring in and lead my own projects. I enjoy taking ownership of projects and guiding them through to completion. I’m excited to continue to develop both that business development side of things while being a successful project manager.
What originally drew you to architecture and design?
What originally drew me to architecture was not only intellectual problem-solving, but also creating something tangible. Early on in college, I realized that strictly academic work was not especially satisfying to me because it didn’t feel “real” and words on paper aren’t something you viscerally experience. Architecture offered a process where ideas eventually become something people can interact with. There is still something kind of magical to me about seeing working on a building in an imaginary way and then eventually stepping into it in real life while knowing I helped make it happen.
Is there a particular architect/designer’s work that inspires you? Why?
I don’t really focus on a single architect or designer for inspiration. I’m more inspired by firms doing thoughtful project work within real-world constraints like budgets, materials, and housing needs. I appreciate creative design solutions that happen within those limitations, and that feels closely connected to the type of work we do at MWA.
More externally, I find inspiration through traveling (the housing projects in Copenhagen were really impactful) and by connecting with younger designers by participating in critiques. Recently the University of Oregon architecture students have reminded me how energizing their curiosity and enthusiasm for design can be.