Andrew founded Paratus Group in 1997 to provide focused consulting for cultural projects involving complex programs, exceptional design, intricate construction, and highly creative global teams. With over thirty years of experience, Andy plays a key leadership role in each project undertaken by Paratus Group.

Paratus grew out of a project that began in 1991, when Andy was chosen to oversee the expansion of the landmarked Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on Manhattan’s Museum Mile. Subsequently, he was asked to play a key role directing the planning and programming of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain. Andy founded Paratus Group in order to provide these services to other cultural institutions. Paratus is unique in the field in that they take a leadership role in programming, planning and budgeting new institutions and they follow through by overseeing all of the design and construction. We believe that all the decisions involved from beginning to the end of a project should be guided by the same principles and goals that defined the project at its inception.

Paratus provided Project Direction services for the completed Morgan Library expansion with Renzo Piano, the Toledo Glass Pavilion with SANAA, the McNay Art Museum expansion with Jean Paul Viguier, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum expansion with Renzo Piano, the Perez Art Museum with Herzog de Mueron, the Kimbell Art Museum with Renzo Piano, and most recently Grace Farms with SANAA. We also restored the Guggenheim Museum in 2008. Currently we are consulting with The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw on a Tom Phifer Building, expanding the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, building the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles.

Andy is actively engaged in the architecture community, serving as a guest critic at Yale University School of Architecture and as a speaker at industry events, as well as on advisory panels for civic projects, such as the new Tappan Zee Bridge. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and environmental studies from Bowdoin College.

Project Director

Robert joined Paratus Group in 2005 and has taken the lead role in many high-profile projects. Robert worked with Andy on early planning, programming, and balancing for the Perez Art Museum Miami, the Kimbell Art Museum expansion, and Grace Farms. He personally managed the McNay Art Museum expansion, the Perez design and construction, as well as the renovation of the Young Arts campus in Miami.

Robert has over 20 years of experience in the design and management of a broad range of projects with architecture and design firms. He has served as a guest juror of student work at Columbia, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and New York University. He has led the development of panel discussions for the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums and participated in panel discussions with the American Alliance of Museums. Robert holds a bachelor of architecture from Syracuse University. He is licensed architect in the states of New York and New Jersey, is a member of the American Institutes of Architects, and is certified by the National Architectural Registration Board.

Project Director

Lauren joined Paratus Group in 2016 as an onsite project manager for construction of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA, which will open in September 2021. Currently she is managing the design of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, which will begin construction in the summer of 2021. She also recently completed the close out of Dia: Chelsea in New York City, NY. Previously, Lauren worked for Sciame Construction, where she managed the construction of Grace Farms in New Canaan, Connecticut, and The Shed, in New York City, NY. Prior to entering construction management, Lauren worked as an interior architect in New York City. Lauren holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Pratt Institute.

Project Director

With over 13 combined years of experience as project manager and architect, Cortez has gained a holistic understanding of what it takes to plan and implement mission-driven capital projects. He is currently a Project Director at Paratus Group, guiding cultural institutions through the complex, dynamic, and exciting process of planning, designing, and constructing cultural building projects – translating mission into built form.

Cortez’s project management experience includes: Sarasota Performing Arts Center, a new world-class performing arts venue to be sited at the heart of the waterfront Bay Park; Centre Pompidou x New Jersey, the first American outpost of the world-renowned Paris-based museum of modern and contemporary art; Center for Artists, Research, and Alliances (CARA), a non-profit aiming to expand public discourse and historical record to reflect art’s abundant past, present, and future; and Storm King Art Center, a phased master plan for one of the world’s leading outdoor sculpture museums.

Cortez’s experience as an architect spans a variety of project types including commercial, cultural, educational, residential, municipal, and governmental. Prior to Paratus Group, he was a Senior Associate at SHoP Architects, where he led design of the renovation and expansion of SITE Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of the leading contemporary art institutions in the Southwest.

Cortez holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Florida and a Master of Architecture from Yale University. He is a licensed Architect in the state of New York, and a member of the American Institutes of Architects.

Project Assistant

Julianna joined Paratus Group in 2007 and serviced a number of roles with the company. She began as an assistant project manager for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, after which she worked as a project manager for Grace Farms. She manages project budgets, accounting, and contract administration. In addition, she provides overall support to project directors and managers.

Previously, Julianna taught at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and worked with the M Group Architects & Interior Architects in Virginia. Julianna holds a master of architecture from the University of Michigan and a bachelor of science in architecture from the University of Virginia. She is a licensed architect in the state of New York.

Operations & Assistant Project Manager

Josh joined Paratus Group in 2016. He currently oversees Paratus Group’s daily operations and HR, while assisting in the development and management of the Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

Previously, as Project Assistant, he managed project budgets, accounting, and contract administration for the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles, CA, Amant in Brooklyn, NY, Sundance Institute in Park City, UT, Dia: Chelsea in Manhattan, NY, and Centre Pompidou x New Jersey Museum in Jersey City, NJ.

Prior to joining Paratus Group, Josh worked at the land surveying, civil and structural engineering firm BWE in San Diego in progressive clerical, financial, and administrative roles from Database Administrator to Engineering Assistant and finally Contracts Administrator. Josh completed graduate-level coursework in economics at San Diego State University, and he holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from California State University, Bakersfield and an Associate of Arts degree in Economics from Bakersfield College.