DESIGN
AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH
ENOUGH FOR SE GROUP
Over 60 years designing the world’s ski resorts
By Candice G. Ball
The design of ski resorts wasn’t
exactly simple in the late 1950s,
but the business of skiing centered
around selling lift tickets
and maybe a hot dog or hamburger.
Today, mountain resorts operate
year-round and offer everything from
ziplining and yoga retreats to fat biking
and wine tasting.
SE Group has not only evolved with
the ski resort industry over the last 60
years, but it has also led some of the
evolution by proactively responding
to regulatory changes, environmental
issues and marketplace demands.
Since 1958, SE Group has completed
2,500 ski resort projects around the
world, making it a formidable force in
the industry.
Back in the late 1950s, project concepts
focused more on ski area development
and the discipline behind lift
and trail design as opposed to mountain
resorts. “The planning revolved
around creating the trails and figuring
out where the lifts should go,” said Chris
Cushing, a principal with SE Group.
SE Group focused on creating a balanced
experience within that simple
paradigm. That involved creating trails
for beginners to experienced skiers
and ensuring the parking, lifts and base
lodges met the participants’ needs.
“That planning capacity revolved
around comfortable carrying capacity
or CCC,” said Claire Humber, a principal
with SE Group. “Back in the ‘50s,
‘60s and ‘70s, a lot of the work was focused
on creating a balanced mountain
ski area experience. We still do
that today, but it goes beyond skiing.”
Some signature projects from the
early days include Copper Mountain,
Ice rink at Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain Resort
PHOTO CCOURTESY OF STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
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