Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect
Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect Ltd. is a Canadian firm founded by Greg Marshall, a protégé of Bill Garden. For over 35 years, the studio has designed award-winning megayachts including Calixas, VVS1, and BigFish, and is pioneering super-intelligent, 3D-printed yacht technology.
From Bill Garden's Drafting Board to Global Acclaim
Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect Ltd. (GCMNA) stands as one of the world's foremost yacht design firms, rooted in the mentorship of legendary designer Bill Garden. At age 15, Greg Marshall—already a self-described 'boat nut'—was introduced to Garden by his father, Victoria architect Donovan Marshall. Garden tested the teenager by asking him to sketch a yacht for a client; Marshall passed, and spent six formative years under Garden's tutelage after high school. This apprenticeship instilled a practical, no-nonsense approach to naval architecture that Marshall carries to this day. In 2024, the firm celebrated over 35 years of continuous operation.
Award-Winning Portfolio and Global Reach
GCMNA has designed some of the world's finest megayachts, with partners Greg Marshall and Gordon Galbraith leading a team serving North America, Europe, Asia, and New Zealand. The firm's trophy case includes multiple international accolades: the 32m Calixas, 34m VVS1, and 45m BigFish have won the World Yachts Trophy, International Superyacht Society Design Awards, Showboats Design Awards, and Asian Boating Awards. These vessels exemplify Marshall's ability to blend aesthetic grace with rugged seaworthiness—a signature inherited from Garden and refined through decades of custom commissions.
Visionary Future: Super-Intelligent and 3D-Printed Yachts
Looking ahead, Gregory C Marshall Design is committed to developing 'super-intelligent' superyachts. Marshall draws a parallel between the smartphone revolution and the coming transformation in yacht design, where 3D printing, already integral to prototyping, will eventually produce entire hulls at drastically reduced time and cost. He envisions yachts with embedded intelligence, adapting to owner behavior and environmental conditions. 'My greatest success as a naval architect,' Marshall reflects, 'is that after 36 years, I still love going to work'.
