Forum Design ltd

What Forum Design ltd does

Forum Design Ltd, legally Forum Architecture and Interior Design Inc., is a national multidisciplinary architecture and interior design firm founded in 1986 by R. Norman Stoehr and James B. Black. The firm is headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida, operates as a 100% employee-owned entity through an ESOP structure, and employs 65+ employee-owners (per HR Manager disclosure). Forum specializes in four integrated verticals: multifamily, student housing, senior living, and hospitality, with documented delivery of 250,000+ residential units across 25 licensed states and a 90% repeat client rate accumulated over four decades.

The firm delivers three integrated service lines under a single platform: (1) Architecture services spanning site selection, land planning, feasibility analysis, permitting support, and construction administration; (2) Interior design services covering concept development, finish selection, and amenity/common area design; and (3) FF&E procurement delivered through its internal Design Resource Group (DRG) division. Supporting capabilities include architectural and interior visualization (high-fidelity renderings, real-time 3D walkthroughs, massing studies) and streamlined municipal permitting support. The technology stack is conventional architecture/interior design tooling rather than proprietary AI/ML systems.

Forum operates a project-based, B2B professional services revenue model with quote-driven custom engagements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting developers and property owners nationwide, leveraging 40 years of sector expertise, integrated service delivery, and an embedded early-stage development partnership approach. Marketing relies on industry award recognition (75+ awards across Aurora, GOBA, NAHB, IIDA programs), project portfolio case studies, content marketing, and professional affiliations. In May 2026, the firm rebranded from 'Forum Architecture and Interior Design' to simply 'Forum' to mark its 40th anniversary and reinforce its expanded national, cross-vertical identity.

Name

Forum Design ltd

Legal name

Forum Architecture and Interior Design Inc.

Website

https://forumdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Forum Design Ltd is a 100% employee-owned, national architecture and interior design firm specializing in multifamily, student housing, senior living, and hospitality projects across 25 U.S. states, delivering integrated architecture, interior design, and FF&E procurement services to developers and property owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture & Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Multifamily architecture design
• Interior design services
• Student housing design
• Senior living design
• FF&E procurement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Altamonte Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Project-based fees for architectural design services including site selection, land planning, feasibility analysis, permitting support, and construction administration for multifamily, student housing, senior living, and hospitality projects
2. Interior Design Services: Project-based interior design services including concept development, material/finish selection, model unit design, and common area design
3. FF&E Procurement Services: Furniture, fixtures, and equipment procurement and installation coordination services delivered through Design Resource Group (DRG), providing turnkey interiors from design to installation

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forum Design is a national multidisciplinary architecture and interior design firm that delivers integrated architecture, interior design, and furniture/fixtures/equipment (FF&E) procurement services to real estate developers and owners. Its work is specialized in multifamily, student housing, senior living, and hospitality projects, with 250,000+ units delivered and operations licensed across 25 states.

Product overview

Forum Design is a national multidisciplinary architecture and interior design firm offering integrated services across four core areas: Architecture Services, Interior Design Services, and FF&E Procurement (delivered through Design Resource Group). The firm specializes in multifamily, student housing, senior living, and hospitality design sectors, combining architecture and interior design under one roof for seamless project delivery. Key specializations include Multifamily Design, Student Housing Design, Senior Living Design, and Hospitality Design. Supporting services include Architectural Visualization & Conceptualization, Interior Design Visualization, and Permitting Support. The firm operates as a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) organization with a track record of 250,000+ units delivered across 25 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 74 units per acre achieved on constrained infill sites through innovative site design
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Design Resource Group (DRG)coreOthersInternal FF&E procurement division operating under the Forum umbrella, providing in-house furniture, fixtures, and equipment sourcing, vendor coordination, budget development, installation oversight, and warranty management for seamless procurement from design to installation

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KTGY Architecture + Planning: National architecture firm specializing in multifamily, mixed-use, student housing, and senior living design with integrated planning services. Directly comparable to Forum in core verticals, integrated service model, and developer-focused B2B go-to-market.
• Bassenian Lagoni Architects: Architecture firm focused on multifamily housing, student housing, senior living, and hospitality. Mirrors Forum's vertical specialization and developer-client base with a similar project-based fee model and integrated architecture-plus-interiors delivery.
• Niles Bolton Associates: Architecture and interior design firm with deep multifamily, senior living, and hospitality expertise. Direct peer given overlapping vertical focus, integrated architecture/interior design delivery, and national reach serving real estate developers.
• Grace Hebert Architects: Multifamily and senior living architecture firm serving developers nationwide. Comparable to Forum in vertical specialization, integrated design approach, and developer-focused relationship-driven business model.
• AO (formerly Architects Orange): Architecture and design firm specializing in multifamily, hospitality, student housing, and mixed-use developments. Strong functional overlap with Forum in core verticals and integrated architecture-plus-interior design model.
• Steinberg Hart: Architecture, planning, and urban design firm with multifamily, mixed-use, and hospitality expertise. Comparable mid-sized national firm with developer-focused practice and integrated design capabilities.
• WDG Architecture: Architecture and interior design firm with multifamily, mixed-use, and hospitality practices. Comparable integrated architecture/interior delivery and developer-relationship-driven business model.

Broad incumbents

• DLR Group: Large integrated design firm with multifamily, hospitality, senior living, and student housing practices. Larger-scale incumbent with broader portfolio; overlaps Forum's verticals but operates across many additional markets.
• Gensler: Global design and architecture firm with strong hospitality and multifamily practices. Larger-scale broad incumbent that competes for premium developer work but does not specialize in Forum's core multifamily/student/senior housing verticals.
• LEO A DALY: National architecture, engineering, and planning firm with multifamily, hospitality, and senior living capabilities. Broader portfolio than Forum but competes in overlapping verticals with developer-focused go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/forumarchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forum-architecture-and-interior-design-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/forumarchitecture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forum Design ltd