Mr. Thomas Grey
Research Fellow, Civil Struct & Env. Eng.
Biography
Tom holds a degree in architecture from the Dublin Institute of Technology and a Masters in architecture (Sustainability of the Built Environment) from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Following 10 years in practice working on projects in Ireland, the UK, Europe, the US and NZ. Tom joined TrinityHaus Research Centre in TCD in 2009. Since then he has undertaken a variety of urbanism and architectural research projects across all spatial scales examining how people-friendly design can support inclusion, health, wellbeing and social participation throughout the lifecourse.
Much of this work focuses on accessible and age-attuned urban space, communities and neighbourhoods, hospitals, residential long term care settings, housing, and gardens and greenspace. This work is underpinned by Universal Design to include all people regardless of age, ability, disability, or neurodiversity. Tom brings together this people-centred design approach with his expertise in sustainable and low-carbon design to help create integrated built environments that support resilient, climate-responsive, healthful, and inclusive communities.
Tom serves as expert and advisor with a number of national organisations and committees such as the National Standards Authority of Ireland (e.g. Chair of NSAI/TC 023/SC 01 Accessibility in Built Environment) and the BRE Sub-group on housing for our ageing population. He also the convenor support as part of the creation of new international standard ISO 25553 " Smart Multigenerational Neighbourhoods - Guidance and Requirements
All of these projects, research work, and outreach are based on collaboration, co-creation, and transdisciplinary methods and processes.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
O'Donoghue J, Xidous D, Grey T, O'Neill D, Residential Long-Term Care and the Built Environment: Balancing Quality of Life and Infection Control, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2023
Grey, T.; Xidous, D.; O'Neill, D.; Collier, M.J., Growing Older Urbanism: exploring the nexus between ageing, the built environment, and urban ecosystems, Urban Transformations, 5, 2023, p8
Grey T, Xidous D, O'Donoghue J, Kennelly S, O'Neill D, Improving Quality of Life and Enhancing COVID-19 Infection Control in Existing Residential Care Settings for Older People: Universal Design Guidelines, Dublin, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, 2022, p1 - 44
O'Neill D, Xidous D, O'Donoghue J, Puntambekar M, Grey T, Residential long-term care, Covid-19 and architecture and design of the built environment, European Geriatric Medicine, 18th Congress of the European Geriatric Medicine Society, London, 28-30 September 2022, 13, (Suppl 1), 2022, ppS355
Zallio M., Grey T., Boland P., Kelly H., White P.J., O'Ferrall E., Online-based participatory design. A Case Study of Developing International Standards during a Pandemic, Strategic Design Research Journal, 15, (1), 2022, p39 - 51, p39-51
Grey T, Xidous D, O'Donoghue J, Kennelly S, O'Neill D, Universal Design for Improving Quality of Life and Enhancing COVID-19 Infection Control in Existing Residential Care Settings for Older People: Research Report, Dublin, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, 2022, p1 - 110
O'Neill D, Grey T, Xidous D, O'Donoghue J, Puntambekar M, Rethinking nursing home architecture and design in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Innovation in Aging, Gerontological Society of America 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting, Indianapolis, USA, 2-6 November 2022, 6, (Suppl 1), 2022, pp790 - 791
Corbett, Máire. Grey, Tom. Heeney, Teresa. O'Sullivan, Lisha. Ring, Emer. , Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care Settings Design for all, AN LEANBH ÓG - Journal of Early Childhood Studies, 2020
Anderson DC, Grey T, Kennelly S, O'Neill D, Nursing Home Design and COVID-19: Balancing Infection Control, Quality of Life, and Resilience, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 21, (11), 2020, p1519 - 1524
Xidous D, Grey T, Kennelly SP, O'Neill D, Dementia Friendly Hospital Design: Key Issues for Patients and Accompanying Persons in an Irish Acute Care Public Hospital , Health Environments Research & Design, 13, (1), 2020, p48 - 67
Dyer, Mark, Dyer, Rachel, Weng, Min-Hsien, Wu, Shaoqun, Grey, Thomas, Gleeson, Richard, García Ferrari, Tomás, Framework for Soft and Hard City Infrastructures, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning, 2019, p1-20
Grey T, Fleming R, Goodenough BJ, Xidous D, Möhler R, O'Neill D, Hospital design for older people with cognitive impairmentsincluding dementia and delirium: Supporting inpatients andaccompanying persons (Protocol), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019
Grey T, Xidous D, Kennelly S, Timmons S, O'Neill D, Dementia friendly hospitals from a Universal Design Approach: research and guidelines, Innovations in Aging, GSA 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, Boston, 13-17 Nov 2018, 2, (Suppl 1), 2018, pp943
Edelstein E, Anderson D, Grey T, O'Neill D, Clinicians for Design: A Convergence of Expertise to Enhance Cognition and Healthcare Design, Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, Salk Institute, San Diego, 20-22 September, 2018, pp58-59
Grey Tom, Xidous Dimitra, Kennelly Sean, Mahon Sean, Mannion Victoria, De Freine Paul, Murphy Neil, de Siún Anna, O'Neill Desmond, 166 Dementia Friendly Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach: Research and Guidelines to Support People with Dementia, Accompanying Persons and Visitors, Age and Ageing, 47, (suppl_5), 2018, pv1-v12
, DEMENTIA FRIENDLY HOSPITALS FROM A UNIVERSAL DESIGN APPROACH: RESEARCH AND GUIDELINES, Innovation in Aging, 2018
Xidous Dimitra, Grey Tom, Kennelly Sean, O'Neill Desmond, 159 Determining Knowledge and Degree of Engagement of Hospital Estates Management and Technical Services Departments for Provision of Dementia Friendly Hospitals, Age and Ageing, 47, (suppl_5), 2018, pv13-v60
, 159Determining Knowledge and Degree of Engagement of Hospital Estates Management and Technical Services Departments for Provision of Dementia Friendly Hospitals, Age and Ageing, 2018
Grey T, Xidous X, Kennelly S, Mahon S, Mannion V, de Freine P, Dockrell D, de Siuin A, Murphy N, Craddock G, O'Neill D., Dementia Friendly Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach: Design Guidelines, Dublin, Centre for Universal Design, 2018, p1 - 312
, 166Dementia Friendly Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach: Research and Guidelines to Support People with Dementia, Accompanying Persons and Visitors, Age and Ageing, 2018
Framework for Collaborative Urbanism in, editor(s)Certomà C, Dyer M, Pocatilu L, Rizzi F , Citizen Empowerment and Innovation in the Data-Rich City, Springer, 2017, pp19 - 30, [2. Dyer M, Gleeson D, Grey T]
Kevin M. Leyden, Amanda Slevin, Thomas Grey, Mike Hynes, Fanney Frisbaek, Richard Silke, Public and Stakeholder Engagement and the Built Environment: a Review, Current Environmental Health Reports, 2017
Using Big and Small Urban Data for Collaborative Urbanism in, editor(s)Certomà C, Dyer M, Pocatilu L, Rizzi F , Citizen Empowerment and Innovation in the Data-Rich City, Springer, 2017, pp31 - 54, [Grey T, Dyer M, Gleeson D]
Grey T, Kennelly S, de Freine P, Mahon S, Mannion V, O'Neill D, Towards a building typology and terminology for Irish hospitals, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2017
Xidous D, Grey T, Kennelly S, O'Neill D, Dementia-friendly hospital design: using thematic analysis to identify key issues for patients, family members and staff in Tallaght Hospital, Age and Ageing, Irish Gerontological Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Killarney, 30 Sept - 1 Oct, 45, (Supplement 2), 2016, ppii33 - ii33
Dimitra Xidous, Tom Grey, Sean Kennelly, Desmond O'Neill, 145DEMENTIA FRIENDLY HOSPITAL DESIGN: USING THEMATIC ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES FOR PATIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND STAFF IN TALLAGHT HOSPITAL, Age and Ageing, 45, (suppl 2), 2016, pii13.48--ii56
Mark Dyer, Thomas Grey, Oliver Kinnane, GiveMe Shelter: a people-centred design process for promoting independent inquiry-led learning in engineering, European Journal of Engineering Education, 2016, p1--16
O. Kinnane, T. Grey, and M. Dyer, Adaptable housing design for climate change adaptation, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability, 2016
Kinnane, O.P., Grey, T., and Dyer, M., Energy & environmental forensic analysis for public buildings, Engineering Sustainability, ICE Proceedings,, 167, (4), 2014, p143 - 156
Siddall, E., Grey, T., Dyer, M., Indicators and stakeholder engagement: A Dublin case study, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Engineering Sustainability, 166, (2), 2013, p85-97
A Comprehensive Monitoring System to Assess the Performance of a Prototype House in, editor(s)A. Hakansson, M. Höjer, R. J. Howlett, and L. C. Jain , Sustainability in Energy and Buildings, Berlin, Springer , 2013, pp373 - 379, [O. Kinnane, T. Grey, and M. Dyer]
Grey, T. Siddall, E.C. and Dyer, M. , Shared Space, Shared Surfaces and Home Zones from a Universal Design Approach for the Urban Environment in Ireland, National Disability Authority, 2012
Siddall, E.C. and Grey, T. , Sustainability Indicators Framework, Dublin City Council, 2011
Research Expertise
Projects
- Title
- Planning and design for quality of life and resilience in residential long-term care settings for older people in Ireland: Research and Universal Design Guidelines for new-build, adaption and retrofit
- Summary
- Background: In Ireland, the provision of Residential Care Settings (RCS) for Older People is inadequate; putting pressure on the health system and undermining the care of many older people. With population growth, the number of people requiring RCS will inevitably increase, worsening the shortfall. This is recognised by the Irish government and funding is to be provided for new RCS. However, the success of these facilities is greatly influenced by design and the quality of the physical environment, and their impact on resident and staff wellbeing and health. COVID-19 has exposed how many settings are ill-designed for infection-control and the protection of residents and has illustrated the importance of space and spatial practices such as social distancing, and isolation/quarantine, all of which have immediate and long-term implications for RCS planning and design. Yet, there is scant research or evidence-based guidance regarding best-practice planning and design of RCS in Ireland. Aims: The project will produce evidence-based Universal Design guidelines for RCS for Older People in Ireland that support quality-of-life and infection-control. These guidelines will support resident-centred principles and standards in national policy; be applicable to new-build, retrofit, and refurbishment projects; and, relate to rural, suburban and urban location Methodology: The project adopts a mixed-methods approach based on PPI contribution and stakeholder engagement (focus groups, interviews, questionnaires). The methodology incorporates literature and policy reviews, and Irish and international case studies. The outputs will include a Key Findings Report and guidance document. Impact on health/social care policy and practice: This project will improve the quality-of-life for RCS residents and staff by promoting greater community integration and accessibility in terms of planning, and by improving design and the physical environment in RCS. It will promote innovative and diverse RCS models, help inform broader planning and design policy, and support Irish health and social care policy.
- Funding Agency
- HRB
- Title
- ACCESiBUILT - ACcessible, Comfortable, Environmentally Sustainable inclusive, Built environment
- Summary
- The European Green Deal, the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) emphasise the significance of accessible and sustainable built environments. Yet, key issues such as accessibility, comfort, and sustainability are often regarded as isolated concerns, resulting in disjointed approaches to cities, neighbourhoods, and buildings. ACCESiBUILT rectifies this through an integrated framework to align accessibility (EN17210), comfort, sustainability and climate action (Level(s)). The framework includes innovative digital tools like 'Evaluator' for accessibility assessment, 'Certifier' for certification, and 'Synergy' for exploiting accessibility-sustainability synergies. It is usable across various spatial scales for retrofit (supporting EC Renovation Wave) and for new construction. It offers educational modules and identifies job pathways to increase capacity, while providing co-creation tools and processes underpinned by `a design for all" approach. ACCESiBUILT embraces adaptability, ensuring built environment readiness for evolving user needs and climate adaptation, while encompassing the NEB's ethos of sustainability, aesthetics, and social inclusion The ACCESiBUILT framework will be demonstrated in 3 cities and 6 additional test sites, focusing on co-creation with 5 key stakeholder groups: users of the built environment, including persons with disabilities and older people; built environment professionals; policy makers; built environment providers such as owners, and managers; and academia. ACCESiBUILT aligns closely with the AccessibleEU Resource Centre, boosting its impact by bolstering capacity-building, stakeholder engagement, and accessibility across Europe. By integrating comfort, health, and sustainability, ACCESiBUILT not only complements European endeavours like Level(s) but also champions inclusion, resilience, and climate action.
- Funding Agency
- Horizon Europe
Recognition
Awards and Honours
Silver Medal Bloom 2017 - Dementia Friendly Garden
Arts Council of Ireland Professional Development & Training Award
ELEVATOR INNOVATION IN DEMENTIA AWARD 2014 - Runner up award for Dementia Friendly Housing through a Universal Design Approach
Silver Gilt Medal Bloom 2019 - E3 Garden