Gary Barley

Trained as an architect, with a BA (Hons) and Diploma in Architecture, Gary has built his career at the intersection of design and digital practice. Since joining Pascall+Watson in 2014, he has held a digital leadership position, playing a central role in shaping how artificial intelligence is being adopted within the practice, leading the integration of both large language models and image generation tools into live design and project workflows. Alongside this practical implementation, Gary has been responsible for developing and defining the practice’s AI policy, ensuring that the adoption of these technologies is guided by clear principles of responsibility, ethics, and security. His approach is a considered one: AI should augment the design process with purpose, accountability, and measurable benefit. Gary is committed to building genuine understanding of AI across the practice. He hosts regular internal digital sessions, creating space for open dialogue, hands-on exploration, and honest discussion about the role these tools play, and the questions they raise, within the built environment professions. He is equally active beyond the studio, regularly attending industry events to stay close to the latest developments in AI and digital practice, and bringing those learnings back into the day-to-day work of the teams he supports. Gary’s work in AI sits within a broader foundation of digital practice. He brings long-standing experience in BIM and information management, with a strategic approach to data coordination, digital workflows, and the ongoing advancement of the practice’s digital agenda.