About us
WHO WE ARE
A consultancy built around close, sustained involvement
Studio Lourdes is a design and architecture consultancy based in New York, working with retail, workplace, and hospitality brands to carry a vision from concept to a finished, built space.
What we do
Whether the concept comes from an in-house team or an outside studio, our role is to make it viable without diluting its intent. We interpret the design through the particular conditions of each project, its lease, building, landlord criteria, regulatory requirements, and construction realities, then translate it into a coordinated set that others can price, approve, and execute with clarity.
Throughout the process, we act as the point of continuity between the original vision and the many parties responsible for delivering it. The result is a built space that still carries the character of the idea it began with.
The name
Studio Lourdes is named for Christina Magrans's grandmother, Lourdes, who immigrated from Cuba and moved to Miami with very little. She built a life through courage and grace, and Christina wanted the studio to carry that spirit forward.
There is a second meaning to the name. Lourdes is a small city in the southwest of France, at the foot of the Pyrenees, known as a place of pilgrimage. People travel there from around the world seeking healing and sanctuary. Though the town has only a few thousand residents, it welcomes millions, and what stands out is what happens when they arrive: strangers looking after one another, and a community formed around care.
That idea is central to Studio Lourdes. A place of welcome and refuge, where clients and team members are looked after, and where people come together to create something larger than any one person. The name carries both meanings intentionally: a family history of resilience and a place shaped by community and care.
WHAT GUIDES US
Our values
Belonging
Studio Lourdes is committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace where every team member is respected, supported, and able to contribute fully.
Excellence
We maintain high standards across every stage of a project and continually review our processes to improve the quality, accuracy, and consistency of our work.
Growth mindset
We invest in our team's growth through ongoing workshops and training, encouraging everyone to keep learning, question their own assumptions, and develop alongside the studio.
Connection
Good work depends on good relationships. We show up for one another as a team, and we show up for our clients, standing behind their decisions and treating every partnership, inside the studio and out, with consideration and respect.
Empowerment
We encourage initiative, independent thinking, and accountability. Team members are trusted to make decisions, contribute ideas, and take ownership of their work.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK
The team
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR
Christina Magrans, AIA
With more than 20 years of experience in architecture and design, Christina Magrans founded Studio Lourdes with a simple idea: the way a studio works shapes the work it produces.
Her approach is grounded in building a team culture where people can learn, contribute, and do their best work. She believes that strong relationships, curiosity, and a shared commitment to quality lead to better outcomes for both the team and its clients.
Christina has completed Executive Leadership Programs at Harvard Business School, bringing a leadership perspective shaped by both design and business. At Studio Lourdes, she has built an environment that values continual learning, thoughtful collaboration, and the willingness to challenge assumptions when a better approach is possible.
That philosophy extends to the way the studio works with clients. Christina believes in being closely involved, listening carefully, asking the right questions, and building relationships that carry through the life of a project.
Alison Carroll, RA
OPERATIONS MANAGER
“Joining this team has meant spending each day working with friends, building relationships with clients who we enjoy working with, and creating a flexible and inspiring work environment. Our unique focus on connection, learning and growth means always building upon our success in a way that benefits everyone: the company, the team, our clients, and our projects.”
Viviana Agudelo
SENIOR DESIGN MANAGER
“Studio Lourdes creates a space for all of us to be unapologetically true to who we are. Through our principles, values and culture, work-life balance is not just a notion but a guiding principle, ensuring that everyone thrives both in and out of the workplace. We strive to give meaning to everything we do, making our work not only fulfilling but truly impactful on both personal and professional levels.”
Téa Gjini, RA
SENIOR DESIGN MANAGER
“At Studio Lourdes, our journey is defined by the exceptional collaboration of creative, caring, and capable professionals. Working together, we not only achieve excellence but cultivate an environment that fosters growth, leadership, empathy, and continued learning. Together, we shape the future with passion and purpose, empowering each other to reach new heights of success.”
Gaby Jarrin
DESIGN MANAGER
“Studio Lourdes isn't just a workplace; it's a community where we feel like family, working alongside friends every day. We focus on building strong connections with clients and each other, creating an inspiring and resilient environment for growth. Authenticity drives us to innovate, collaborate, and succeed together.”
Disha Punn
DESIGN MANAGER
“In the era of dynamic and fast-paced lifestyle, Studio Lourdes offers a sanctuary to thrive, where work fulfills, life balances, and a united team delivers excellence to every client.”
George Baddour
DESIGN MANAGER
“Studio Lourdes embodies a place for inspiration, excitement, and care. Being part of such a team and having the ability to lead with intuition allows us to thrive individually and together. The amazing ideas and collaboration we practice every day mold a sincere space filled with joy.”
Isabela Morais
DESIGN MANAGER
“There is nothing more powerful than being part of a team that lifts you up, brings out your best, truly cares for one another, and shares the same values and mission. This culture of care and unity is what makes Studio Lourdes grow stronger and stand out every day.”
Emily H. Limage
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
“I bring nearly two decades of experience in architectural project leadership and retail design to drive strategic growth and cultivate meaningful client partnerships. At a firm grounded in authenticity, excellence, and creative empowerment, I’m grateful each day for the opportunity to channel my passion, demonstrate my expertise, and contribute to both the internal culture and external success of the firm. Studio Lourdes enables me to integrate business strategy with design insight, deepening my knowledge while fostering relationships built on trust and shared vision. Together, we’re not only creating exceptional spaces, but also cultivating a culture where creativity thrives and every project becomes an opportunity to grow, elevate, and inspire.”
Lisa Shaari
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
“It's incredibly fulfilling to be a part of a team that brings creativity to life. As CFO, I love the challenge of balancing artistic vision with financial reality. It's a constant balancing act, and I'm thrilled to be at the helm.”
COMMON QUESTIONS
FAQ
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Studio Lourdes is an architecture and design consultancy working across retail, workplace, hospitality, and wellness. Our services range from concept and interior design to Architect of Record, permitting, construction documentation, consultant coordination, and construction administration.
We can lead a project from its earliest stages or join an existing team to help carry an established vision through approvals and construction. -
The Architect of Record is the licensed architectural professional responsible for translating a design into the technical documentation required for permitting and construction. This may include code review, construction documents, consultant coordination, landlord requirements, historic review approvals, responses during permitting, and support throughout construction.
Our role is to keep the design clear, coordinated, and buildable as it moves through each of these stages. -
Yes, this is a significant part of our work. Brand teams, outside studios, and independent designers bring us their concept, and we take it from there, coordinating the documentation, code compliance, and approvals needed to get it built, while keeping the design faithful to what was originally intended.
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Yes. Studio Lourdes is licensed to provide architectural services across all fifty United States and Canada, and our project experience extends internationally as part of global retail rollout programs. This range allows us to navigate local codes, permitting processes, landlord requirements, and site conditions while maintaining consistency across a broader program.
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We work across four primary areas: retail and luxury retail, including standalone shops and pop-ups; workplace interiors; hospitality; and wellness spaces such as medical spas and fitness studios. Our portfolio includes flagship stores, boutiques, multi-location retail programs, corporate workplaces, renovations, and projects within existing or historically sensitive buildings.
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Yes. When a project begins with Studio Lourdes, we develop the concept from the identity of the client and the experience the space needs to create. Our interior design scope may include programming, layouts, circulation, materials, lighting, furniture, fixtures, finishes, custom elements, FF&E, and styling.
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Yes. Our involvement depends on what the project requires. Some clients engage us for a complete process, from discovery and concept design through construction administration. Others need support during a specific phase, such as permitting, due diligence, FF&E, procurement, landlord coordination, or construction oversight. We define the scope together based on the project's existing team, stage, location, and priorities.
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Yes. We work within existing buildings, including historic and landmark-protected properties. These projects may involve reconfiguring layouts, updating building systems, restoring architectural elements, coordinating new requirements with existing conditions, or adapting a space for a new use.
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The exact scope varies by project, but construction administration may include site visits, contractor coordination, review of shop drawings and submittals, responses to requests for information, review of construction progress, coordination with consultants and vendors, resolution of unforeseen site conditions, and punch list and closeout support.
Studio Lourdes remains involved to help ensure that the work being built reflects the approved documents and original design intent. -
Yes. Depending on the scope, we coordinate permitting strategy, submissions, comments from reviewing authorities, landlord criteria, historic review processes, and the consultants required to move the project forward. Because each property and jurisdiction has its own requirements, this work is evaluated according to the location and conditions of the project.
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Yes. We regularly coordinate with structural and MEP engineers, lighting designers, technology and security consultants, signage teams, permit expeditors, contractors, vendors, and other specialists. Our role is often to serve as the point of continuity between these different parties, keeping information coordinated and decisions aligned.
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We develop systems that can be carried from one location to another while preserving the identity of the original design. This may involve prototype development, test fits, standardized millwork and fixture packages, finish specifications, documentation, permitting, and adaptations for local codes, landlords, budgets, and site conditions. The objective is to create consistency without ignoring the realities of each individual location.
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Complete the project inquiry form with a brief description of the location, scope, timeline, and support you are looking for. Our team will review the information and contact you to discuss the project in more detail.