How GRA Design Studio Mapped Out National Expansion With TD Bank

What started as a one-person design studio in New Jersey has evolved into a nationally active architecture and engineering firm working with some of the fastest-growing restaurant and franchise brands in the country.

Founded in 2011 by Architect Greg Ralph, GRA Design Studio now employs around 70 people and serves clients across commercial development, luxury residential, franchise design, engineering, permitting, and real estate strategy. Helping fuel that trajectory has been TD Bank, which has worked alongside the company since 2016 as GRA expanded its staffing, services, and reach across the country.

Where architecture meets client experience

Shortly after receiving his architecture license in New Jersey, Greg launched GRA Design Studio with the belief that there was an opportunity to create a more transparent, service-oriented experience. That perspective came after working at several architecture firms early in his career and seeing areas where communication and customer experience could improve.

His philosophy shaped the company’s early direction. GRA initially focused on high-end residential projects before gaining momentum in the commercial space, with a major turning point coming in 2014 when the company secured work with Jersey Mike’s locations throughout New Jersey. Greg said those early relationships helped establish credibility with franchise operators and developers, many of whom remain clients more than a decade later.

“I’m so proud to say that 12 years later, I still have the same clients I had in 2014,” Greg said. “For me, that’s everything.”

GRA Design Studio now works with brands including Paris Baguette, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Wingstop, Wonder, and Playa Bowls while continuing to diversify its work across multifamily, luxury residential, and commercial development.

Broadening the company’s capabilities

As the business expanded, so did the services offered under the GRA umbrella. What began as a traditional architecture practice has evolved into a full-service operation that now includes in-house engineering, permit expediting, existing conditions surveys, interior design, and real estate advisory services.

“I don’t just want to do architecture,” Greg said. “I want to do anything related to your design, development, construction, and single-source it for you.”

That client-first approach has also shaped how the company manages projects and client visibility. As part of that effort, GRA adopted a cloud-based platform that gives clients direct access to updates and timelines in real time.

“We differentiate through transparency,” Greg said. “If you’re looking for a vendor, go look somewhere else. We’re not a vendor.”

Instead, Greg describes the company as collaborative and deeply invested in clients’ success. The company refers to that mindset internally as “the GRA Way,” centered around communication, accountability, and helping clients navigate every stage of development.

“I want to understand everything,” Greg explained. “I want to review the lease with you. I want to understand the financials. I want some stake in that too, meaning I want to be held accountable if I’m delaying you or costing you money.”

That mentality has helped drive the company’s momentum in recent years. After growing to roughly 20 employees by 2020, the company experienced significant acceleration following the pandemic, at times adding more than 20 employees in a single year.

That momentum ultimately led GRA Design Studio to relocate to a new 7,000-square-foot headquarters in Green Brook Township, designed to better support its growing team and workflow.

“We moved to a space that allows us to collaborate much more closely,” Greg said. “There are always people from the GRA team meeting and collaborating.”

Scaling alongside TD Bank

As GRA Design Studio added staff, clients, and new service lines, Greg said access to capital became critical to maintaining operational stability and preparing for future opportunities.

“We had more work coming in than we could staff,” Greg recalled. “I knew I had captive income and revenue coming, but I needed to be able to scale up immediately.”

After first opening a business checking account with TD Bank, the banking relationship evolved as the business matured. Greg worked closely with Shawn Hickson, Business Banker at TD Bank, to establish lending solutions that helped support staffing, cash flow, and long-term planning.

“There would have been no way for us to scale and grow at the pace that we did without the access to capital through Shawn and TD,” Greg said.

Hickson said TD’s role has centered around maintaining close communication and helping the company anticipate future operational needs.

“By having that relationship and being in touch regularly, we were able to help forecast and plan ahead of time so Greg had access to the capital he needed,” Hickson explained.

For Greg, the relationship is rooted in responsiveness, support, and direct access to local representatives who understand the pace of operating a growing business. He said having quick answers and consistent communication has played an important role as the company added staff, clients, and new markets.

“There was always someone there,” Greg said. “Not just somebody on the phone. Shawn came to the office. That meant so much to me because time is everything in business.”

Hickson added that seeing GRA evolve over the years has been rewarding, especially as the company maintained a collaborative culture while broadening its team and client base.

“There’s still this close, tight-knit feeling that they have as a team,” Hickson said. “They really have a great culture.”

Building for the next phase of growth

GRA Design Studio continues to broaden its reach across the country. In addition to its New Jersey headquarters, the company operates in Florida and is preparing to open another office in Scottsdale, Arizona, later this year.

Greg said the company sees a significant opportunity ahead, with TD Bank continuing to support the business as it enters additional regions.

Despite that national expansion, Greg said New Jersey will always remain central to the company’s identity. He added that keeping the company rooted in its home state has always been important to him, even as the company establishes a presence in new parts of the country.

“I’m born and raised in Westfield, New Jersey,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m New Jersey forever.”