Heather Johnston
Senior Design Phase Manager | Seattle
Heather is a Senior Design Phase Manager at Mortenson who specializes in aligning project scope, budget, and schedule during design to create a clear path to successful execution. Drawing on her background in architecture and building information modeling (BIM), she bridges design intent and construction execution, bringing together owners, designers, estimators, and construction teams to help make informed decisions early in the process and build confidence in project costs, timelines, and deliverables before construction begins.
Away from work, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, particularly supporting her son's passion for soccer. She also enjoys golfing, staying active through walks and runs, and exploring a variety of creative hobbies and interests.
Industry Experience
Heather brings a unique perspective to the design and construction process, combining her background in architecture with extensive experience in BIM, constructability reviews, phasing, sequencing, and site logistics. This foundation allows her to connect design decisions with construction realities, helping teams develop solutions that are both practical and achievable. She is particularly skilled at aligning owners, designers, estimators, superintendents, and project leaders around a common goal, establishing decision-making frameworks that clarify priorities, maintain momentum, and enable the right decisions to be made at the right time. By fostering collaboration and building consensus among diverse stakeholders, Heather helps minimize rework, mitigate risk, and avoid the last-minute challenges that can impact project success.
Passionate about solving complex project puzzles, Heather thrives in collaborative environments where ideas are openly shared and practical solutions emerge. Whether facilitating pull-planning sessions with design partners or leading integrated working sessions with project teams, she excels at translating technical information into language that resonates with different audiences and drives informed decision-making. Her interests in construction logistics, sequencing, and strategic project planning are matched by her enthusiasm for innovation and continuous improvement. Heather is energized by opportunities to rethink traditional project delivery approaches and explore ideas from outside the construction industry that can enhance collaboration, efficiency, and overall project success.
Professional Experience
She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Idaho and is an Associate DBIA professional. Her background in architecture, BIM, constructability, and preconstruction planning provides a well-rounded perspective that bridges design and construction, enabling her to help teams align scope, budget, and schedule with confidence.
Community Involvement
Heather is actively involved in the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), where she serves as Chair of the Membership Committee and participates on the Programs and Golf Tournament Committees. She is also involved with Pro Shop, serving the organization's Programs Committee.