In 1999, two young women architects, Anne Marie Lubrano and Lea Ciavarra, established lubrano ciavarra architects, pllc (formerly lubrano ciavarra design, llc) as a full-service Architecture and Design Firm. In addition to Basic Architectural Services, they have considerable experience in Pre-Design and Feasibility Studies, Programming, Signage and Graphic Design, Web-Site Design, 3D Rendering, and Furniture and Material Palette Selection. All of these
services are performed in-house by the talented architects and designers who currently make up the office.
From the start, lubrano ciavarra has approached each endeavor with extreme attention to detail, never missing a deadline. Early in its history, the firm achieved recognition when it was selected as the Open Phase Winner and placed second in Phase Two of the International Chicago Public Schools Design Competition: Big shoulders Small Schools. This submission for a 100,000sf new elementary school
on the North Side of Chicago with a maximum budget of $100/SF honed the firm’s skills in working with local community, school, and parent Boards to create a clear, innovative and wholly feasible ADA-compliant building.
Since then, lubrano ciavarra architects has found creative ways to push the envelope and meet clients’ expectations, so much so that the office has developed a reputation for creative planning while maintaining a critical eye towards program, budget and feasibility. lubrano ciavarra knows that the design and construction process is not a short-term endeavor! It is through the development of these long-term relationships that they are able to tailor spaces to the needs and aesthetics of each individual client. The staff of The Richard Avedon Foundation can certainly attest to lubrano ciavarra’s client commitment - they worked continuously with the firm on multiple museum, exhibition and workshop spaces for over five years!
The firm’s most recent work includes the design and construction of a new ground-up condominium building in Greenpoint, NY that will be LEED certified, as well as multiple scopes of work at the Section 8
affordable-housing complex of Taino Towers in Harlem. This work, combined with large-scale hotel renovation projects for Morgans Hotel Group as well as multiple public school projects awarded under a NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) contract, has situated lubrano ciavarra in a unique position to handle large-scale work while still being a young, scrappy and high-energy firm.
The firm is also certified by NYS as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE). As active women in the arts, lubrano ciavarra’s approach to providing opportunities to women has always been one of a targeted and focused effort. Over the past 8 years the firm has participated in the “Praxis” mentoring program with Smith College, the four-year accredited institution for women located in Northampton, Massachusetts. Each Summer, the firm has sponsored a female student from Smith College to join the office in order to assist in the development of her career in the field of architecture. Many of these students have returned to work at the firm upon graduation.
Regardless of the size or type of project, lubrano
ciavarra maintains an open dialogue with their clients. They are committed to maximizing their client’s budget through smart planning and the innovative use of materials. Collaboration and constant communication with clients, consultants and contractors alike make the process as efficient as the product. The outcome of such collaboration are strong plan concepts that translate into clearly planned, high-functioning and provocative spaces.