Gray Invests in Future Generations of Design-Build

Gray, a fully integrated, global service provider specializing in engineering, design, construction, digital, equipment manufacturing, and real estate services across industries, is proud to announce its commitment to furthering design-build education. The Gray family led by Howard, Jim, Franklin, and Stephen Gray and their sisters, Julia and Lisa, along with the company, is partnering with the University of Kentucky (UK) to sponsor the design, renovation, and construction of a dedicated building for the College of Design (CoD), as well as a new design-build curriculum at the college. This new design-build program will represent a collaboration with UK’s College of Engineering and the Gatton School of Business and Economics.

Previously called the Reynolds Building, the new facility will be called the Gray Design Building. It will incorporate five programs, in addition to landscape architecture and a biomedical engineering studio, allowing the college’s students, faculty, staff, and programs to be housed in one location for the first time.

“At the heart of who we are and what we do is the foundation our parents instilled of giving back—giving back to the communities where we live and where we build. This value has been a touchstone for more than 60 years,” says Jim Gray, chairman, Gray, Inc. “This is a generational opportunity for us to give back to a college that has meant so much to our family and team members.”

A special groundbreaking ceremony was held to commemorate the monumental occasion, in which representatives across the university, Gray, and region came to celebrate. In addition to Gray’s contributions, the building is being made possible by a collaborative effort of more than 50 gifts.

Construction is scheduled to be complete near the end of 2023. For more information, visit design.uky.edu/newbuilding.

"At the heart of who we are and what we do is the foundation our parents instilled of giving back—giving back to the communities where we live and where we build. This value has been a touchstone for more than 60 years. This is a generational opportunity for us to give back to a college that has meant so much to our family and team members."

Jim Gray, Chairman

Gray, Inc.

About Gray

Gray is a fully integrated, global service provider deeply rooted in engineering, design, construction, digital, equipment manufacturing, and real estate services. Consistently ranked among the top industrial contractors in the U.S., we focus on the following markets for domestic and international customers: Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Automotive, Distribution, Mission Critical, and Commercial.

Founded in 1960, Gray has grown to encompass a complementary family of brands designed to augment and enhance each other’s specialized capabilities without gaps or redundancies. Our robust offering enables us to create one-of-a-kind solutions at the highest levels of customization, delivering unmatched precision and partnership to some of the world’s most sophisticated organizations.