Founder

Richard Chandler is the Founder of New York City’s next-generation architecture and design firm, Studio Valerius. Before establishing the studio, he was a longtime Associate Principal and Studio Leader at the Rockwell Group, leading high-profile projects across the United States and internationally, from Brazil to Korea. Richard is known for his work on Union Square Cafe, Nobu Downtown, Chefs Club, Hudson Yards Peak Restaurant, and the Moynihan Train Station waiting room.

A registered architect, Richard holds a Bachelor of Planning and Design and a Master of Architecture from the University of Melbourne. He first arrived in New York City in 2003, captivated by the city’s energy, and returned permanently in 2008 to work on landmark master planning projects for AECOM, including the WTC Path Train Station and the 2nd Avenue Subway.

At the Rockwell Group, Richard became a Studio Leader, overseeing a team of 25+ creatives and delivering projects for clients such as Related, SBE, Fisher Brothers, Marriott, IGH, Union Square Hospitality Group, and City Harvest. Among his celebrated projects are Five50 Pizza Bar at the Aria Las Vegas, 605 Third Avenue Lobby, Murray’s Cheese Bar, Wine Spectator, Wynwood Freehold, and West Hollywood’s Nightingale Nightclub.

Driven by curiosity and a passion for design, Richard founded Studio Valerius in 2020, naming it after his late grandmother Valerie, an artist who inspired his own creative path.

Partner

Grégoire Abrial is a French-American interior and product designer and Partner at Studio Valerius. His design journey began over 20 years ago, building furniture in his parents’ garage before pursuing industrial design studies in Lyon, San Francisco, and Paris, earning a Master’s degree from ENSCI – Les Ateliers.

Grégoire has led hospitality, residential, and product design projects globally. He has held roles at Amy Lau Design, Crème, Rockwell Group, and Jeffrey Beers International, contributing to landmark projects including Daily Provisions, Murray’s Cheese, Freehold Café, City Harvest, Nobu Hotel Atlanta, Estiatorio Milos Toronto, and multiple Hard Rock venues.

His design philosophy is rooted in Slow Design, emphasizing respect, empathy, and sustainability. At Studio Valerius, Grégoire blends narrative-driven interiors with product innovation, ensuring projects are functional, beautiful, and environmentally responsible.

Beyond his professional work, Grégoire continues to design and build furniture in his Williamsburg loft, experimenting with sustainable materials and storytelling to create meaningful, enduring objects.

Design Director

Natalie Imran is an award-winning designer and Design Director at Studio Valerius, known for her belief that architecture can uplift the human experience. Her work spans the United States, Australia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Asia, including hospitality interiors, mixed-use residential projects, and cultural spaces.

Natalie’s career includes roles at S9 Architecture in New York, Blur Workshop in Atlanta, and Arquitectonica in Miami, where she contributed to concept development, schematic design, and design development. Her projects range from a market in Chicago and a wellness spa in the Philippines to a prototype children’s play venue in Atlanta.

A passionate traveler and lifelong learner, Natalie continually explores culture, art, and architecture, from drawing courses in Hong Kong to sustainable urbanism projects in Australia with Ecosystem Architecture and Arup Engineers. She also contributed to a net-zero classroom initiative in Atlanta to support underserved urban communities.

Natalie holds a Master of Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where her thesis explored architecture as a layering of memory and experience. Her work has been recognized by SCAD, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Contract Magazine.