Forrec
Professional services
UnclaimedFORREC is a Canadian entertainment design and planning company specializing in theme parks, water parks, resorts, attractions, retail, and mixed-use destinations.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
FORREC is a Toronto-based Canadian entertainment design and planning company whose work spans theme parks, water parks, resorts, visitor attractions, retail environments, and mixed-use developments. The firm is known primarily as a multidisciplinary creator of destination concepts rather than as an operator of venues under its own consumer-facing brand. Its services combine master planning, landscape architecture, architecture, interior design, graphic design, storytelling, and visual communication to shape the physical and thematic experience of large leisure and tourism projects. The business developed from a Canadian landscape-architecture practice with roots extending back to firms associated with Richard Strong, Hideo Sasaki, Steven Moorhead, Donald Guy Sigsby, and other practitioners. Earlier predecessor firms worked on public landscapes, urban renewal, recreational planning, and major Canadian developments. Their projects included Queen's Park Complex and Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, as well as the La Ronde amusement park created for Expo 67 in Montreal. The practice's increasing concentration on recreational destinations led to important assignments such as Canada's Wonderland in Ontario in 1978 and the World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall in 1981. In 1985, the organization adopted the name FORREC, derived from the phrase “for recreation,” and formalized itself as a private limited company with share capital. During its first major period under the FORREC name, the firm concentrated on North American destination projects. It assisted with planning and design work related to the proposed Fiesta Texas project in San Antonio and subsequently worked for Universal Studios on its Florida theme park, which opened in 1990. These assignments helped establish FORREC as a specialist partner for large-scale entertainment developments. From the 1990s onward, FORREC expanded internationally. Its portfolio came to include projects for major entertainment, hospitality, real-estate, and tourism groups. Named clients and collaborators have included Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, Nickelodeon, BBC Worldwide, Six Flags, Wanda Group, Chimelong Group, Dubai Holdings, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Meraas Leisure and Entertainment, the Singapore Tourism Board, and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. The company's work has covered both branded attractions and destination concepts developed for regional or local markets. The firm's projects include theme parks such as Canada's Wonderland, Dollywood, Everland, LEGOLAND Deutschland, Nickelodeon Universe, Universal Studios Orlando, and Wanda-branded parks in China. Its water-park work includes the World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall, Caribbean Bay, Costa Caribe, NRH2O, Lotte World Kimhae Water Park, and the conversion of Beijing's National Aquatics Center into the Happy Magic Watercube family water park. FORREC has also designed or planned mixed-use and tourism developments, including retail districts, waterfronts, resorts, cultural destinations, and large integrated leisure complexes. FORREC broadened its professional capabilities in the 2010s. In 2013, Tim Scott and Nolan Natale joined the organization with the team from Natale and Scott Architects, helping establish a fully licensed architectural practice in Ontario. In 2016, FORREC merged with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc., strengthening its local landscape-architecture capacity. The company has also received professional recognition for planning, architectural illustration, water-park design, and creative work. Its current identity is that of an international, multidisciplinary consultancy serving owners, developers, operators, public agencies, and branded entertainment companies.
History
FORREC's history developed through a succession of Canadian landscape-architecture practices that gradually moved toward recreational and entertainment environments. In 1961, Hideo Sasaki and Richard Strong formed the Toronto-based firm Sasaki, Strong & Associates. The practice worked mainly in Canada and was involved in the master planning of Toronto's Queen's Park Complex and the design of Nathan Phillips Square. Strong later established Richard Strong Associates in 1965 while continuing professional collaboration with Sasaki. Among their joint projects was La Ronde, the amusement park developed for Expo 67 in Montreal. From 1970 to 1973, Strong worked with Donald Guy Sigsby and Steven Moorhead in the firm Strong Moorhead Sigsby. The organization operated from Toronto and Sydney and undertook landscape planning, research, and public-sector work. It also produced studies and publications relating to Canadian parks, including work connected with Gros Morne National Park and Fathom Five Provincial Park. After Sigsby departed to establish a practice in Australia, Strong and Moorhead continued as partners from 1973 to 1977. Their work during this period included urban renewal, recreational land planning, and public-space design, including Devonian Square in Toronto and a major waterfront-planning study for Thunder Bay. The practice changed again between 1977 and 1984 as Moorhead, Fleming, Corban, and later McCarthy became associated with the organization. Richard Strong moved to Calgary in 1977 and established a separate practice there. During this period, the Toronto practice increasingly focused on major recreational facilities. It designed Canada's Wonderland in 1978, described as Canada's first major theme park, and the World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall in 1981. These projects helped shift the firm's identity from general landscape architecture toward specialized entertainment and destination development. In 1985, the company adopted the name FORREC, a shortened form of “for recreation.” It also became a private limited company with share capital. The firm introduced a shareholder policy under which owners were expected to begin selling their shares at age 60, an arrangement intended to keep ownership fluid. Under the FORREC name, the company first built a strong North American portfolio. It worked with USAA Real Estate Company and Gaylord Entertainment on the development then known as Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. Universal Studios later commissioned FORREC for design work associated with its Florida theme park, which opened in 1990. The company expanded internationally from the 1990s through the early 2010s. Its assignments covered theme parks, water parks, resorts, retail districts, and integrated tourism developments across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other markets. One notable adaptive-reuse project transformed Beijing's National Aquatics Center, built for the 2008 Olympic Games, into the Happy Magic Watercube family water park. FORREC also worked with BBC Worldwide on prototype concepts based on BBC brands including Top Gear, CBeebies, BBC Earth, and Walking with Dinosaurs. During the 2010s, FORREC reinforced its architectural and landscape capabilities. In 2013, Tim Scott and Nolan Natale joined with the team from Natale and Scott Architects, making FORREC a fully licensed architectural practice in Ontario. In 2016, the company merged with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. The firm continued to work for international developers, operators, governments, and entertainment companies, while receiving recognition from professional and industry organizations for planning, illustration, architecture, and water-park design. A later ownership change gave Sansei Technologies a 70% stake in FORREC's parent company. FORREC remains known as an international design consultancy rather than a venue operator, with its work typically delivered on behalf of third-party owners and brands.
- 2017
Professional illustration awards
[1]FORREC personnel receive Observational and Rendering Awards of Excellence at Architecture in Perspective 32.
- 2016
Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. merger
[1]FORREC merges with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. to extend its landscape-architecture capabilities.
- 2013
Architectural practice is expanded
[1]Tim Scott and Nolan Natale join FORREC with the Natale and Scott Architects team, supporting full architectural licensing in Ontario.
- 2008
Beijing National Aquatics Center is built for the Olympics
[1]The facility later becomes the subject of FORREC's conversion project into the Happy Magic Watercube water park.
- 1990
Universal Studios Florida opens
[1]FORREC's work for Universal Studios contributes to the firm's profile in major North American theme-park development.
- 1985
FORREC name is adopted
[1]The company adopts FORREC, derived from “for recreation,” and formalizes its private limited-company structure.
- 1981
World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall is designed
[1]The firm designs the World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall, reinforcing its specialization in large-scale aquatic attractions.
- 1978
Canada's Wonderland is designed
[1]The predecessor practice works on Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, a major project in the firm's transition toward theme-park design.
- 1970
Strong Moorhead Sigsby is formed
[1]Richard Strong, Steven Moorhead, and Donald Guy Sigsby merge practices, expanding the firm's work and geographic presence.
- 1967
La Ronde is developed for Expo 67
[1]Richard Strong and Hideo Sasaki collaborate on La Ronde, the Montreal amusement park created for Canada's Expo 67.
Products and positioning
A multidisciplinary entertainment-design consultancy that combines planning, architecture, landscape architecture, interiors, graphics, and experience design for large-scale leisure and tourism destinations.
Professional service
Theme-park design and master planning
FORREC plans and designs themed entertainment destinations, coordinating site planning, attractions, circulation, architecture, landscape, interiors, graphics, and narrative environments. Its named theme-park portfolio includes Canada's Wonderland, Dollywood, Everland, LEGOLAND Deutschland, Nickelodeon Universe, Universal Studios Orlando, and projects associated with Wanda, Six Flags, and other international developers.
Professional service
Water-park design
The company provides planning and design services for indoor and outdoor water parks, aquatic resorts, and water-based attractions. Referenced projects include the World Water Park at West Edmonton Mall, Caribbean Bay, Costa Caribe, NRH2O, Lotte World Kimhae Water Park, and Happy Magic Watercube in Beijing.
Professional service
Resort and destination development
FORREC works on integrated leisure destinations combining hotels, attractions, retail, public spaces, cultural facilities, and supporting infrastructure. Its work has included resort and tourism projects in China, the Middle East, Europe, India, and other markets, often connecting visitor experience with broader real-estate and destination strategies.
Professional service
Mixed-use and retail environments
FORREC plans and designs mixed-use developments, retail districts, waterfronts, and tourism-oriented urban environments. Examples cited in the reference material include Grand Galaxy Mall in Jakarta, Marina Walk in Herzliya, Wave City Centre in Noida, Dubai Wonderland, Qingdao International Tourist City, and other large destination developments.
Professional service
Branded visitor attractions
The firm develops concepts and prototypes for attractions based on entertainment and media brands. Its referenced work for BBC Worldwide covered concepts inspired by Top Gear, CBeebies, BBC Earth, and Walking with Dinosaurs, illustrating FORREC's role in translating intellectual property into physical visitor experiences.
Brand decisions
2016
Merge with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc.M&ABackground
The company continued to develop an integrated design model combining architecture, landscape, and entertainment planning.
Action taken
FORREC merged with Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc.
Aftermath
The transaction extended FORREC's local landscape-architecture expertise.
2013
Expand architectural capabilities through team integrationStrategyBackground
FORREC sought to broaden the professional disciplines available to clients beyond planning and landscape architecture.
Action taken
Tim Scott and Nolan Natale joined FORREC together with the Natale and Scott Architects team.
Aftermath
The addition enabled FORREC to operate as a fully licensed architectural practice in Ontario.
1985
Adopt the FORREC name and recreation-focused identityStrategyBackground
The firm's work had become increasingly concentrated in theme parks, water parks, and other recreational destinations.
Action taken
The organization changed its name to FORREC, derived from “for recreation,” and adopted a private limited-company structure.
Aftermath
The change marked the company's transition from a general landscape-architecture lineage to a specialist entertainment-design consultancy.
- Sansei Technologies takes a majority stake in the parent companyM&A
Background
The available reference identifies a later ownership transaction but does not provide its date or financial terms.
Action taken
Sansei Technologies, Inc. acquired a 70% stake in FORREC Ltd.'s parent company.
Aftermath
The ownership change placed FORREC within the majority-owned corporate structure of Sansei Technologies' parent-company investment.
Ownership stake. 70%
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