ISG takes root in Rogers, Arkansas, with a new office and acquisition of Unit Architecture

Aug 23, 2023

Will Swearingen

ISG, a full-service, 100 percent ESOP firm, is expanding into Rogers, Arkansas. As the firm celebrates its 50th anniversary, this strategic move marks a chapter of growth as the firm seeks to make a positive difference in more communities across the nation. To guide the success of this expansion, ISG welcomed Unit Architecture and the design firm's owner and principal, Ryan King, AIA.

The decision to expand into Arkansas aligns with ISG's commitment to help all communities achieve development that makes a lasting, meaningful impact.

ISG Chief Executive Officer Lynn Bruns, PE, shared his enthusiasm for the impact the expansion and King will have.

"We are thrilled to bring ISG's services to Arkansas," Bruns said. "By extending our team into this growing community and integrating Ryan's local relationships, perspective, and development knowledge into our firm's expertise, ISG will become more responsive and accessible to current and prospective clients." 

Bruns also noted that the move offers the opportunity for ISG to further attract top talent in the region, strengthening its overall team and bringing greater value to the clients and communities they serve. 

King brings an exceptional understanding of the local market and more than 20 years of commercial design and development knowledge to his role at ISG as Housing Business Unit Leader. Backed by ISG's robust team, he will reinforce relationships, increase involvement in the community and with local chambers of commerce, and improve his ability to create successful development outcomes across the region. 

"I am delighted to be a part of the ISG team," King said. "I am excited to lead the new office in Rogers and begin applying ISG's in-house resources to benefit the fast-paced growth and housing shortages in the region. I am confident that we will build trust with existing and new clients through thoughtful and meaningful design and forge opportunities to create a better tomorrow for Arkansas."

As a significant milestone for ISG, this move reinforces the firm's position as a national leader in architecture, engineering, environmental, and planning. With a focus on growth and innovation, ISG remains committed to creating a better tomorrow today.

Zweig Group – the leading research, publishing, and advisory services resource for firms in the AEC industry – advised ISG through this transaction. The deal team included Will Swearingen, Zweig Group’s Director of Ownership Transition, and Justin Ramirez, Zweig Group’s Director of Mergers & Acquisitions.

“For the past few years we have been helping ISG continue their regional expansion through the heartland,” Swearingen said. “Bringing highly talented teams into an organization with the culture and resources of a firm like ISG is really fulfilling. We are excited to have been in the mix with Unit Architecture and ISG and know this combination will bring high quality development to a region that is growing rapidly.”

About Zweig Group

Zweig Group, three times on the Inc. 500/5000 list, is the industry leader and premiere authority in AEC firm management and marketing, the go-to source for data and research, and the leading provider of customized learning and training. Zweig Group exists to help AEC firms succeed in a complicated and challenging marketplace through services that include: Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategic Planning, Valuation, Executive Search, Board of Director Services, Ownership Transition, Marketing & Branding, and Business Development Training. The firm has offices in Dallas and Fayetteville, Arkansas.