Harold S Johnston III

When an institution or company needs to renovate, build, or add on, they turn to an architect for the task of defining those needs and translating them into a building design. Harold S. Johnston III, AIA, Principal of Canzian/Johnston Associates in New Kensington, is one of a few local architects and has been making his mark on our community for many years.

Mr. Johnston is particularly pleased with his current project, the new Kiski Area High School building addition and renovations. It is the largest project his firm has done, approximately $36 million in work. So far, everything is going well, and they are nearly six months ahead of schedule. It is not only large but also complex, requiring building an addition in the midst of Kiski’s campus, maintaining classes without interruption, and completing work on time. Mr. Johnston loves the challenge and he has more than met it. He gives a lot of credit to P.J. Dick Corporation who won the contract for construction.

A large part of the architectural mark that Mr. Johnston has had in the Alle-Kiski region has been in educational facilities. He completed three Pennsylvania State University projects at the New Kensington campus. He designed the Science & Technology building, computer labs and just finished renovating the Admissions Office. He was cited in the American University & School magazine for his design of the Fort Crawford Elementary School in the New Kensington and Arnold School District. Finished in 2000, the new building at the intersection of industrial and residential zones was envisioned to function as both a community school and regional teleconferencing center. He has designed many schools for Kiski, New Kensington-Arnold, and Plum School Districts.

His design influence is far-reaching, and over the years has also been used in the Westmoreland County Housing Authority projects. In fact, they were his firm’s first architectural account. His firm has completed Arnold’s Roosevelt Park Playground, Bon Air Elementary School Playground, and Fairmont Park Playground. Other projects include facilities for Delmont Manufacturing Company, Cannon Boiler Works, YMCA Child Care Center, Hemfield District Justice Court, Swank Corporation Headquarters, and many more. He recently was commissioned by Allegheny Township to build a police station and renovate the municipal building.

A native and resident of Arnold, Mr. Johnston focused on being an architect early in life. He remembers that by age 14 he set his goal to be a person who designed structures. After graduating from high school he went to Pennsylvania State University in State College and completed the five-year program for architecture, graduating in 1973.

That year his dad suffered a severe heart attack and he came home to operate his father’s heating sheet metal business, waiting on pursuing his career. He later joined Michael Shamey’s architectural firm in New Kensington where he spent the next eight years. He completed his architectural internship and was granted a state license to practice while he worked for Mr. Shamey.

Mr. Johnston developed a friendship while in school with Thomas Canzian and they began work on architectural projects together. They later founded Canzian/Johnston as partners in 1981. Mr. Canzian tragically died at a young age from cancer. Mrs. Lisa M. Canzian then joined the firm to continue the partnership and assist in the daily operations. Mr. Johnston continues the firm’s fine architectural tradition today, investing in our community through design. The firm is located at 361 Main Street, New Kensington, PA 15068 at 724-339-0511. You may see their web site at http://www.cjaarchitects.com.

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