Gray Design Ltd is a multi-faceted, full service architectural practice which has been appointed by Specsavers Ireland to upgrade and deliver over 30 new stores across the entire island of Ireland.
The contract is one of the largest and most prestigious Gray Design has secured in its 18-year history. With offices in Newry, Belfast and Dublin, Gray Design will be responsible for designing new Specsavers stores, relocations, rebrands and expansions in 2023. Fronted by Colin Dalton and Barry Gray, and employing a top-class and dynamic team of architects, architectural technicians and administration personnel, the practice has extensive experience in all major sectors, including commercial, conservation, retail, housing, transport and leisure, and is renowned for delivering high-quality services from residential extensions to multi-million-pound commercial schemes.
Specsavers is bringing its Ireland stores up-to-date for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic and, with the help of Gray Design, intends to include Hearing Centres in many of its new and existing locations.
“We are delighted to be able to share the news of this exciting new partnership with a global brand such as Specsavers,” Gray Design co-founder Barry Gray enthuses.
“We will be responsible for detailed design services and full project management, from start to finish, and will be collaborating with the Specsavers Ireland team to deliver brand new stores and refurbishments to existing stores.
“We have already begun work on a number of Specsavers stores and we hope to begin site work on several of these projects within the next few months.”
Gray Design was formed in 2005 by Colin Dalton and Barry Gray with the simple vision to do architecture better. Today, they and their 12-strong team believe they have a unique ethos and philosophy that make them truly different.
“We are big enough to deliver, but small enough to be able to provide the personal touch,” Barry points out.
“That’s why our clients come back to us time and time again. Every commercial client is led by Colin or I. When they ring, they get us on the other end of the phone. We’re both hands-on with an exceptional team behind us. We are very good at giving one-to-one attention. That’s the feedback we keep getting from our clients. It’s not just us saying that.”
Believing that the best results come from true collaboration, Gray Design encourages client involvement in all projects from the very earliest stage. Attention to detail and value-for-service are paramount. Whether it’s a dwelling, retail complex, pub, sports complex, housing scheme, internal fit-out or industrial park, each project is afforded the level of expertise required.
Gray Design believes in the importance of relationships within business and prides itself on being approachable, sensible, reliable, trustworthy and focused on getting the job done.
Specsavers are just one of many blue-chip clients Gray Design deals with on a regular basis. Other clients include KFC, Dobbies Garden Centres, Nando’s, Bank of Ireland, The Junction Retail & Leisure Park in Antrim, Cunningham Contracts Group, Graham Construction, Cranwood Industries, Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, Lotus Homes, AJ Plumbing Supplies Ltd, McDonald’s, McAllister Group, Starbucks Coffee, Pure Vent, Smet, Terra Solutions Ltd, Leixlip Amenities Group, The Boulevard Outlet Shopping Centre in Banbridge, CTS, Jack & Jones, Lagan Specialist Contracting, Killowen Contracts Ltd, M&M Services, Mylife, Modern Tyres, Murdock Trusses & Space Joists, Belfast Harbour, Warrenpoint Harbour, Space to Trade and Cardinal Capital Group.
Among the M&E consultants Gray Design collaborates with are Dynamic Design, Sheehy Consultants, McDonnell Consulting, MCR Consultants, RSK, RPS and Tetratech.
“We’re very busy at the moment,” Barry continues.
“As well as Specsavers, we’re working on an office fit-out in Dundalk for a US-based IT company, residential schemes in Portadown, Newry and Belfast, and the Leixlip Amenities Sports Centre in Co. Kildare. We’re also finishing off a Dobbies Garden Centre in The Junction Retail & Leisure Park.
“By having offices in Belfast and Dublin alongside our head office in Newry, it gives us a presence in those areas and also allows us to provide a nationwide service.”
Colin and Barry are full of praise for Gray Design’s team of highly dedicated professionals who adopt a client-centred approach to their work. “Our people are our greatest asset. Each and every one of them are committed to achieving the highest quality in all projects. It’s a real team effort between everyone,” Colin enthuses
As Gray Design continues to go from strength to strength, Barry and Colin would like to take this opportunity to thank their clients and suppliers for their support as well as their staff and sub-contractors for their hard work, dedication and skill.
Gray Design Ltd
Newry Office:
40-41 The Mall,
Newry,
BT34 1AN.
Telephone: +44 (0)28 3025 1885
Belfast Office:
54 Elmwood Avenue,
Belfast,
Bt9 6AZ.
Telephone: +44 (0)28 9068 6732
Dublin Office:
6-9 Trinity Street,
Dublin 2.
Telephone: +353 (0)1 906 0962
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, July 2023, Vol 9 No 7
