Autodesk is expanding its Forma portfolio with a new tool, Forma Building Design, aimed at bridging early-stage form finding and detailed architectural modeling. Previously, Forma’s strength lay in conceptual site planning and massing workflows. Now, Autodesk is positioning its latest browser-based offering to operate at a more refined Level of Detail (LoD 200), says AEC Magazine.
The launch signals a shift in how Autodesk thinks about BIM. Rather than merging all capabilities into one monolithic tool, the company is adopting a “persona-based” strategy: each task (site design, building modeling, structural, MEP) can use a tool suited for it, tied together through the Forma Industry Cloud. This cloud backbone ensures data flows seamlessly among Forma tools and now, Revit too, via a new Forma Connected Client architecture. Revit users will be able to tap into Forma’s cloud-driven analyses (sunlight, wind, carbon, daylight) and access shared, granular model data.
At the core of Forma Building Design is AI-enabled modeling. Autodesk calls it a “neural CAD for buildings,” embedding generative design and real-time performance feedback during design. One of the first features is the Building Layout Explorer, which can propose interior layouts while letting designers compare tradeoffs such as daylight, unit mix, and other metrics. The aim is to make BIM less intimidating, especially for users transitioning from 2D or parameter-based workflows.
Autodesk is cautious: it’s not about replacing Revit, but augmenting its strengths with cloud and AI. Over time, more desktop tools may adopt Connected Client status. The data model is open, allowing third-party tools (Tekla, Rhino, Power BI, IFC-based systems) to integrate via connectors.
Forma Building Design is Autodesk’s bet on modular BIM, where design, analysis, and collaboration live in a shared cloud ecosystem. If executed well, firms could pick tools by task; no matter where the work is done, the model remains consistent.