Firm

The open-floorplan architecture department at Forum Design, featuring large work surfaces and exposed ductwork.

Forum is a multidisciplinary architecture and interior design firm with deep national expertise across multifamily, student housing, senior living, and hospitality sectors. The firm’s team brings a nuanced understanding of how people live, age, and connect in shared environments. This unique insight is defined by 40 years of collaboration with developers and owners nationwide.

Forum was founded in 1986 with a conviction that architecture and design, done right, could meaningfully shape how people live, age, and connect. Founders R. Norman Stoehr and James B. Black built a firm grounded in creative rigor, technical discipline, and a partnership model that put client success at the center of every decision. That foundation has produced four decades of sustained growth, shaping a culture of employee-ownership where every team member is invested in the outcome. The philosophy hasn’t changed. Forum has simply grown into it.

Forum Principals

Forward thinking and experienced leadership.

Forum's principals are deeply experienced, actively engaged, and always accessible. Their ongoing presence throughout the life of every project ensures clarity, continuity, and strategic oversight when it matters most. Equally important, they lead without hierarchy, fostering a culture of mutual respect that strengthens collaboration across teams and with clients.

Our Leaders

100% Employee-owned. 

Our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)

As a 100% employee-owned firm (ESOP), Forum merges creative vision with technical precision, integrating architecture, interiors, and FF&E procurement under one roof. This seamless approach ensures cohesive design execution from concept through completion, delivering spaces that elevate resident experience and support long-term investment value.

Our collaborative spirit extends across the entire firm.

As an entirely employee-owned firm, every team member has a direct stake in Forum’s collective success. Our people aren’t just employees – they’re owners. All of us are invested in the outcomes of every project and in the long-term health of the firm. Many team members have been with Forum for years, bringing deep institutional knowledge, consistency, and a shared commitment to excellence.

From start to finish, the same core team stays involved in each project, ensuring seamless communication, accountability, and a truly integrated partnership with clients. This model builds trust, fosters long-term relationships, and drives the kind of outcomes Forum stands behind.