Forrec

Last updated
FORREC Ltd
TypePrivate company
IndustryEntertainment Design
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Number of employees
c. 120
Website www.forrec.com

FORREC Ltd. (customarily styled FORREC) designs and plans theme parks, water parks, resorts, retail and mixed use developments and visitor attractions around the world. FORREC's clients include Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, [1] Nickelodeon, BBC Worldwide and Six Flags as well as international companies like China's Wanda Group and Chimelong Group, Dubai Holdings, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Meraas Leisure and Entertainment LLC, Singapore Tourism Board and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. FORREC began as a landscape architecture firm in Canada in 1984 and has since added architecture, interior design and graphics disciplines. [2] [3]

Contents

Company history

Pre-FORREC

1961-1965: Sasaki, Strong & Associates

Japanese-American landscape architect, Hideo Sasaki partnered with Richard Strong to form the Toronto-based firm Sasaki, Stong and Associates in 1961. Working mainly in Canada, they master planned Toronto's Queen's Park Complex [4] [5] and designed Nathan Phillips Square. [6]

1965-1970: Richard Strong Associates Ltd.

Richard Strong founded Richard Strong Associates in 1965, but continued to partner with Hideo Sasaki on numerous projects. [7] Together they designed La Ronde, the amusement park for Expo 67 in Montreal. [8]

1970-1973: Merged to form Strong Moorhead Sigsby, Ltd.

Merging with Australian landscape architecture professor, Donald Guy Sigsby, [9] and Toronto-based landscape architect Steven Moorhead, Richard Strong became president of Strong Moorhead Sigsby, Ltd. The firm expanded, with offices in Toronto and Sydney, Australia. As Strong Moorhead Sigsby Limited the group published numerous academic articles and studies, as well as the following books: [10]

1973-1977: Name Change to Richard Strong - Steven Moorhead

Upon Sigsby's departure to start his own firm in Australia, [11] a partnership formed between Strong and Moorhead. Most of the work from these 5 years was based in Ontario. During this time the company focused on urban renewal, recreational land planning, and landscape design for urban parks, like Devonian Square [12] in downtown Toronto. One of their largest projects was The Thunder Bay Waterfront Park Study plan. This 28-page report was well received and was used as the basis of development for years to come. [13] The pair continued to produce industry related books and articles, including:

  • Ryerson Polytechnical Institute: Landscape Development (1975) [14]

1977-1984: Moorhead Fleming Corban Inc. then Moorhead, Fleming, Corban, and McCarthy

Strong moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1977 and established his practice there as Richard Strong Associates. [15] A series of employee promotions and company mergers adjusted the name and management make-up of the company for almost a decade. [16] In 1978, the firm designed Canada's Wonderland, the country's first major theme park and later, in 1981, the World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall. [17] [18]

As FORREC

The increase of theme park and water park focused work led to the company's final name change in 1985 to FORREC, a shortened version of "For recreation". [17] [19] The company's business model also became a private limited with share capital. [20] To keep ownership fluid, a policy was created that required shareholders to begin selling their shares at age 60. [21]

1985-1992: A North-American focus

FORREC were hired by USAA Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the USAA insurance company, and Gaylord Entertainment Company, a company which owned Opryland USA, to assist in the design of a theme park in San Antonio, at the time known as Fiesta Texas. [22] Soon after, Universal Studios hired FORREC to design their theme park in Florida, which opened in 1990. [23]

1992-2013: Global projects

FORREC began doing more international work. [24] They were hired to transform the Beijing National Aquatics Center from the 2008 summer Olympics into a family water park called the Happy Magic Watercube. [25] BBC Worldwide asked FORREC to create a series of prototypes for four of their most famous brands – Top Gear, CBeebies, BBC Earth and Walking with Dinosaurs . [26]

2013-Present: Continued growth and mergers

In 2013, Tim Scott and Nolan Natale of Natale and Scott Architects (NASA), joined FORREC, along with their entire team. This addition makes FORREC a fully licensed architectural practice in Ontario. [27]

FORREC merged with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc (STLA) in 2016 to extend local expertise in landscape architecture. [28]

Sansei Technologies, Inc. (KK:6357) purchased a 70% stake in FORREC Ltd.’s parent company.

Selected Projects

Theme parks

Water parks

Mixed use developments

Other

Awards

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Related Research Articles

Arthur Charles Erickson was a Canadian architect and urban planner. He studied Engineering at the University of British Columbia and, in 1950, received his B.Arch. (Honours) from McGill University. He is known as Canada's most influential architect and was the only Canadian architect to win the American Institute of Architects AIA Gold Medal. When told of Erickson's award, Philip Johnson said, "Arthur Erickson is by far the greatest architect in Canada, and he may be the greatest on this continent."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legoland</span> Global theme park chain based on the Lego brand of toys

Legoland is a chain of family theme parks focusing on the Lego building toy brand. They are owned and operated by the British theme park company Merlin Entertainments, which shares a common owner with The Lego Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 Spadina Crescent</span> Academic building of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1 Spadina Crescent, also known as the Daniels Building, is an academic building that houses the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building is situated in the centre of a roundabout of Spadina Avenue, north of College Street. Its location provides a picturesque vista looking north up Spadina Avenue; it is an axial view terminus for Spadina Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hideo Sasaki</span> American landscape architect

Hideo Sasaki was a Japanese American landscape architect.

Michael Robert Van Valkenburgh is an American landscape architect and educator. He has worked on a wide variety of projects in the United States, Canada, Korea, and France, including public parks, college campuses, sculpture gardens, city courtyards, corporate landscapes, private gardens, and urban master plans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B+H Architects</span> Canadian architectural and engineering firm

B+H Architects or BH Architects is a Canadian architectural and engineering firm headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm was founded in 1953 by Sidney Bregman and George Hamann.

WZMH Architects is an architectural firm established in 1961 and based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as Webb Zerafa Menkès Housden the company's name was changed to WZMH Architects in 2002.

Siamak Hariri, OAA, AAA, AIBC, FRAIC, RCA, Intl. Assoc. AIA is a Canadian architect and a founding partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects, a full-service architectural and interior design practice based in Toronto, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Ott</span> Uruguayan-Canadian architect (born 1946)

Carlos Adolfo Ott is a Uruguayan-Canadian architect. He became famous when he won the international design competition in 1983 for the construction of the Opéra Bastille in Paris, which was inaugurated on July 14, 1989. Starting from an office in Toronto, Canada, Ott has since expanded his practice internationally. Ott's practice is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay, with offices in Dubai, Montreal, Shanghai and Toronto. Ott has designed buildings in Argentina, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Paraguay, The Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Uruguay.

Zeidler Architecture is an international architecture, interior design, urban design, and master planning firm with four Canadian offices located in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Victoria. In addition, the firm has locations in Beijing (China); and Berlin (Germany).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kongjian Yu</span>

Kongjian Yu, is a landscape architect and urbanist, writer and educator, commonly credited with the invention of Sponge City concept, and winner of the International Federation of Landscape Architects’ Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award in 2020. Received his Doctor of Design Degree from Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1995, Doctor Honoris Causa from Sapienza University of Rome in 2017 and Honorary Doctorate from Norwegian University of Life Sciences in 2019, Yu was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian MacDonald (architect)</span> Canadian architect (born 1953)

Ian MacDonald is a Canadian architect. He studied architecture at the University of Waterloo and graduated in 1978 from Carleton University. He worked for Ronald Thom at the Thom Partnership', where he developed a foundation for his own approach to site, structure and the importance of landscape in architecture. In 1984 he established the firm of Ian MacDonald Architect, best known for its residential projects.

Taylor Hazell Architects Limited is an architectural firm located in Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ontario Place</span> Entertainment venue and lakeside park in Toronto

Ontario Place is an entertainment venue, event venue, and park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The venue is located on three artificial landscaped islands just off-shore in Lake Ontario, south of Exhibition Place, and southwest of Downtown Toronto. It opened on May 22, 1971, and operated as a theme park centered around Ontario themes and family attractions until 2012 when the Government of Ontario announced that it would close for redevelopment. It has since reopened as a park without admission but without several of the old attractions. The Government of Ontario is currently considering further redevelopment of the site.

Brigitte Shim, FRAIC, OC, RCA, Hon. FAIA, OAA is a Canadian architect known for her small house designs in Canada and other works in architecture of different scales. Shim is a founding partner of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, along with her husband, Howard Sutcliffe. Before the establishment of Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in 1994, she was a practicing architect who also taught at the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design. She continues to guide young designers as a tenured professor at University of Toronto and as a visiting professor to many other institutions until today. Her works span different scales in architecture, ranging from chairs to public facilities. Her work often shows an interest in the relationship between architecture and nature. Her work has garnered awards such as over a dozen Governor General’s Medals for architecture. Shim is an invested officer of The Order of Canada for her significant contributions to the country.

Shim-Sutcliffe Architects is a Canadian architectural design practice based in Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBI Group</span>

IBI Group Inc. is a Canadian-based architecture, engineering, planning, and technology firm operating from over 60 offices in 12 countries across the world.

Motiongate Dubai is a Hollywood-inspired theme park located in Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, showcasing themed areas and attractions based on DreamWorks Animation, Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate, and The Smurfs and was opened on December 16, 2016.

Urban Design Associates is an international urban design and architecture firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Rosenberg (landscape architect)</span> Canadian landscape architect & urban designer (born 1951)

Janet Rosenberg IFLA, FCSLA, FASLA, is a Canadian landscape architect based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the founding principal of Janet Rosenberg & Studio.

References

  1. ↑ "Toronto design firm gets Lego up in German park". The Globe and Mail. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  2. ↑ "FORREC Company Profile". Attractions Management. The Leisure Media Company.
  3. ↑ "The services industry: Canada's secret economic playground? - Macleans.ca". 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  4. ↑ "Sasaki Strong Associates | Toronto Modern". robertmoffatt115.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  5. ↑ Leblanc, Dave (August 22, 2008). "A magnet for architects". The Globe and Mail.
  6. ↑ "Richard Strong | The Cultural Landscape Foundation". tclf.org. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  7. ↑ "Richard Strong - University of Calgary". Canadian Architectural Archives. 1980.
  8. ↑ Valois, Nicole (2013). "Expo 67: A Watershed for Canadian Landscape Architecture" (PDF). Landscapes (Fall 2013).
  9. ↑ Architecture: 1985 Faculty Handbook. Kensington, New South Wales, Australia: The University of New South Wales. 1985. ISSN   0811-7594.
  10. ↑ "Most Widely Held Works by Strong Moorhead Sigsby". OCLC WorldCat Identities.
  11. ↑ "State Library New South Wales". Donald Sigsby Associates. Research and Collections. 1973.
  12. ↑ "Devonian Square | The Cultural Landscape Foundation". tclf.org. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  13. ↑ "Thunder Bay Waterfront Park Study 1975". www.thunderbay.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  14. ↑ Ryerson Polytechnical Institute: Landscape Development. Richard Strong-Steven Moorhead Limited. 1975-01-01.
  15. ↑ "Biographies | Basic page". asc.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  16. ↑ "Conference Speaker Bios 2014: Landscape Ontario Congress". locongress.com. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  17. 1 2 "Building Dreams | Business In Focus". www.businessinfocusmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  18. ↑ "Design Interview With Ron Holbrook" . Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  19. ↑ "It's Realty: Forrec entertaining all" . Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  20. ↑ "Moorhead Fleming Corban & Partners Limited | DueDil". www.duedil.com. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  21. ↑ "I engineered my own ousting. Here's why". The Globe and Mail. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  22. ↑ "Theme Park Development Case Study - Fiesta Texas / Economics Research Associates / 1999". www.hotel-online.com. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  23. ↑ "The services industry: Canada's secret economic playground? - Macleans.ca". 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  24. ↑ "Thinking local, acting global | Toronto Star". thestar.com. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  25. ↑ "Happy Magic Watercube". Sports Management Magazine. 16. 2012.
  26. ↑ "Exclusive: Forrec planning Top Gear, CBeebies attractions for BBC Worldwide" . Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  27. ↑ Suttles, Claire (2014). "Stories, the Building Blocks of Dreams". Business in Focus.
  28. ↑ "Canada: FORREC Ltd. Merges with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc". EAP Magazine. Euro Amusement Professional.
  29. ↑ "Building Dreams | Business In Focus". www.businessinfocusmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  30. ↑ "Attractions Management" . Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  31. ↑ "Canadian Tourism Marketing | Steve Rhys". www.bigpictureconferences.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  32. ↑ "MOI Park Entertaintment Center | BRN Mimarlık". 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  33. ↑ "$120-million plan to turn Playland into 'world class theme park' heads back to council". 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  34. ↑ "FORREC Lead Design Consultant for Six Flags Dubai". www.blooloop.com. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  35. ↑ "FORREC Design Wanda Nanchang Outdoor Theme Park". www.blooloop.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  36. ↑ Teng, Corinne (January 2016). "Thrills and Chills Keep The Customers Happy". SPLASH (103).
  37. ↑ "New generation Center Parcs planned for France" . Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  38. ↑ "Universal Mediterranea near completion" . Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  39. ↑ "Product Focus". Spa Business. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  40. ↑ "Forrec Makes the Story Flow Through NRH2O Water Park". blooloop. April 20, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Wanda Xishuangbanna Water Park - FORREC" . Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  42. ↑ "Retail & Mixed-use Building & Shopping Centre Architects - FORREC" . Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  43. ↑ "Dreamland & Investors | Dreamland Golf Club". www.dreamlandgolfclub.com. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  44. ↑ "Multi-billion dollar Dubai theme park taking shape". 2014-09-18. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  45. ↑ "Full text of "Leisure Line (1996-03)(Leisure & Allied Industries)(AU)"". archive.org. March 1996. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  46. ↑ "Projekt Thanh Xuan Park : Hanoi, Vietnam - archimania.pl – architektura, architekci – świat nowoczesnej architektury" . Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  47. ↑ Powell, Betsy (2017-01-22). "Can Wasaga Beach find its way out of the shade?". The Toronto Star– via thestar.com.
  48. ↑ "Rs 10,000 crore Wave City Center to pump up realty in Noida" . Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  49. ↑ "FORREC Creates 10-Year Masterplan for Longleat Safari and Adventure Park". blooloop. April 15, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Theme park retirement". 14 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  51. ↑ "31st Annual Architecture in Perspective Competition | Architectural Illustration | Architectural Rendering". www.asai.org. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  52. ↑ "American Society of Architectural Illustrators recognizes Canadian talent - Canadian Architect". 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  53. ↑ "Splash Forest: Wanda Xishuangbanna International Resort Water Park". Aquatics International. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  54. ↑ "Web exclusive: Architectural Illustrators' Conference - Canadian Architect" . Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  55. ↑ "Order of da Vinci Members | Ontario Association of Architects". www.oaa.on.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  56. 1 2 "Press & Events - FORREC" . Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  57. ↑ "Happy Magic Watercube Receives 2013 Dream Design Honor". 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  58. ↑ "AIP 28 - Selected Entries". www.asai.org. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  59. ↑ "2011 NY Upstate APA Chapter Award Winners : New York Upstate Chapter APA". nyupstateplanning.org. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.