His father, Jay Johnston, was the resident supervisor during the construction of the Washington State capitol complex.
It was largely through his efforts that Elizabeth Ayer gave her family papers and drawings to the Special Collections Division of the University of Washington Libraries.
During his years on the faculty, Johnston engaged in a broad range of university and public service.
[3] Johnston was elected a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects in 1982; he received the AIA Seattle Chapter Medal in 1990.
[4] He was a co-recipient, with his wife L. Jane Hastings, of the Leslie Boney Spirit of Fellowship Award given by the AIA College of Fellows.