This week at the AIA25 Conference on Architecture & Design in Boston, Autodesk is showcasing new updates across Autodesk Forma that empower designers and makers to plan faster, design smarter, and collaborate better across the AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations) lifecycle. These updates are available today and enable connected design processes and foster a more integrated project experience for Forma users. 

Elevate designs in Forma with essential spatial context from Esri 

Better data is essential to better project outcomes. Now available in the Autodesk App Store, ArcGIS for Autodesk Forma (in beta) provides architects and designers with the contextual data they need to make more informed design decisions and better support their local communities. With geographic data for buildings, zoning, roads, and more integrated into Autodesk Forma, users can visualize and design for real-world conditions and improve the fidelity of their pre-design work. 

“We’re excited to strengthen our partnership with Autodesk in creating a more cohesive project experience for the AECO industry,” said Kathleen Kewley, Esri director for AEC global business development. “This will improve operational efficiency and drive better business outcomes by bringing Esri’s rich collection of data into Autodesk Forma.” 

“Our augmented reality technology hinges on visualizations that function as counterparts to the physical world, so the seamless use of public and proprietary spatial data is critical for customers,” said Dana Chermesh-Reshef, inCitu founder and CEO. “ArcGIS for Autodesk Forma’s interface is easy to use and responsive, while accessing data is intuitive for AECO professionals with even limited to no GIS experience.” 

Full availability of ArcGIS for Autodesk Forma arrives later this month. Sign up for the Autodesk Forma newsletter for the latest updates on availability. 

With Esri’s ArcGIS data in Forma, users have more of the contextual data they need to deliver projects that meet sustainability and resiliency goals.   

New connections between Forma and Autodesk Construction Cloud provide seamless transitions between design and construction workflows  

At Autodesk University 2024, we announced Autodesk Forma’s connection to Autodesk Docs, our AECO data repository. Today, Autodesk is expanding this connection with new updates that further bridge workflows in Autodesk Forma and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC).  

Rolling out over the next few months, users will begin to see Forma added as a navigation module within ACC. Now live for AEC Collection and TokenFlex customers, users will be able to fluidly switch between ACC’s construction management tools and Forma’s pre-design and schematic design tools with a connected navigation experience, making it easier to transition between both workspaces and deliver a more end-to-end view of project information.  

This complements existing capabilities of Forma’s connection to Autodesk Docs, such as bringing data and stakeholders together in one place via Forma Board, an interactive collaboration tool for AECO teams. Autodesk Docs is also now available to all Forma users regardless of if they are standalone or AEC Collection subscribers, further establishing Docs as the backbone for our Forma industry cloud.  

“Implementing Autodesk Forma has been powerful for improving efficiency, design exploration, and client communication,” said Páraic Walsh, digital and design technology manager at Australian architecture firm Gray Puksand. “Forma’s intuitive conceptual tools allow for initial design exploration without detailed modelling and integrate seamlessly with Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp for smooth progression to later stages.” 

With Forma connected to Autodesk Construction Cloud, users can easily transition between both workspaces and access an end-to-end view of project information.

Forma has also implemented ACC’s unified account and project setup, eliminating redundant administrative tasks for users of both tools. Newly centralized user management provides consistent permissions across ACC and Forma, giving users greater control and peace of mind for access to projects and data. Weaving these tighter digital threads between ACC and Forma helps our customers to centralize their key project information and breaks down collaboration silos at each stage of the lifecycle.  

Learn more about the latest updates to Autodesk Construction Cloud, including the general release of Autodesk Assistant, powered by Autodesk AI. 

More updates to Forma bring data to the forefront of the planning and design process 

Autodesk’s 2025 State of Design & Make report found that digital transformation efforts have an overwhelmingly positive impact on companies’ innovation and productivity, with most seeing over a 50% return on their investments. However, the key to digital transformation across AECO starts with helping builders and designers leverage their vast amounts of data.  

Autodesk Forma is tackling this challenge by making it easier than ever to access high quality contextual data and unlock outcome-based design. The next generation of the Forma Data Marketplace enables customers to find and purchase new data sources from select providers to augment their project plans. Geographic information system (GIS) software provider GeoData will be an early participant in the marketplace, offering high-quality building data for customers based in Norway soon. 

Autodesk also recently collaborated with generative design software Finch to connect Forma with Finch’s AI-powered layout generation, helping bridge workflow gaps from contextual site analysis to BIM-ready layout design and providing users with a more robust data environment. 

What’s next 

Don’t miss the chance to see these updates in action and more at Autodesk’s booth (#2162) at AIA25 (June 4-7, Boston Convention Center).  

Missing AIA25? You can also catch Autodesk at NXT BLD 2025 (June 11-12, London) at Stand #19. 

And for a first look at what’s on the horizon, sign up for our building design tech preview waitlist to be among the first to explore the next generation of building design within Forma.  

Explore the waitlist now.