Breaking Down Autodesk Forma: Worth the $185/month? 🤔

Hey there!

We’ve got quite the lineup for you this week! I just got back from the EntreArchitect Community Annual Meeting in vibrant Nashville, and I’m excited to share some takeaways on the latest AI for Architects episode. We had some powerful conversations about why prioritizing profit matters—and why it’s so important to keep the human touch alive in architecture.

I’m also diving into the latest in architecture tech, with a focus on Autodesk Forma and its potential for sustainable design. If you're curious about all this, you can now listen to the full episode here.

Thanks for being here, and let’s keep exploring what AI can do for all of us!

🎧 New Episode: How AI Can Drive Profit & Sustainability for Architects

In this episode of AI for Architects, host Aya Shlachter delves into the latest advancements in design, focusing on Autodesk Forma and its potential for sustainable practices. She also shares key insights from the Entree Architect Annual Meeting.

Here’s what we covered:

• Profit Over Art: The Entree Architect Annual Meeting emphasized that focusing on profitability doesn’t mean sacrificing creativity.

• Autodesk Forma's Role in Pre-Design: Forma is proving itself a powerful tool for early-stage design, helping teams work smarter with data-driven insights.

• Sustainable Design with Real-Time Data: AI enables more precise sustainability efforts by providing real-time analysis, but it's crucial to weigh AI’s environmental footprint as well.

• Annual Planning for AI Integration: Yearly strategy sessions are key to growth, helping firms align AI initiatives with their long-term goals.

• The Future of Architecture is Human-Centered: AI is a powerful tool, but the heart of architecture will always be grounded in human creativity and experience.

👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts
👉 Listen on Spotify

🏗️ Architecting With AI
See in real-time how AI is used in designing the built environment.

AI Education in Architecture: Revolutionizing Learning — AI is transforming architecture education by introducing new tools for design and data analysis, boosting creativity, and preparing architects for the future. Find out how here.

AI in Architecture: Transforming Design and Construction — From generative design and robotic construction to smart buildings and cities, AI is changing the AEC industry as we know it, enabling more efficient, sustainable, and innovative environments while raising questions about creativity, job impacts, and ethical challenges.

🔍 AI Tool of the Day: Autodesk Forma

What is Autodesk Forma?

Autodesk Forma is a cloud-based software, accessible via any web browser, included with the Autodesk AEC Collection, which many architects already have. It’s especially beneficial in the pre-design and schematic phases, aiding in building, urban, and sustainable design.

Key Features:

• Location Data Capabilities: Automatically pulls maps, topography, and local infrastructure for site-specific insights.

• Fluid Workflow Integration: Connects seamlessly with Revit, Rhino, and Dynamo, allowing a smooth transition from early-stage design to detailed development.

• Pricing: Available at $185/month, $1,500/year, or $4,500 for three years.

Forma’s AI-backed tools support informed decision-making right from the start. Here are three notable case studies where Forma has empowered architecture firms in sustainable design:

• Arcadis (Egypt Project): Forma provided real-time feedback on passive design strategies for a hot climate, making sustainability accessible to all team members.

• Stantec (Carbon Analysis): By integrating Forma’s carbon analysis tools, Stantec can now assess carbon impacts early on, saving time and allowing for proactive sustainable design.

• Lake | Flato (San Antonio Office): Through Forma and Revit, Lake | Flato’s adaptive reuse project achieved real-time sustainable insights, transforming the space into a well-being-oriented “urban oasis.”

Learn more about Forma 👉 here.

🗓️ AI in Motion: Events You Can't Miss Right Now

AI + Design Thinking Symposium — New webinar alert! Taking place on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at the USA Kibel Gallery, Maryland, This AI + Design Thinking Symposium looks toward the future we can design when we think with AI.

AI and the Future of Architecture — Architects from across the pond, this one’s for you! On November 18, 2024, AIA UK will hold AI and the Future of Architecture, special in-person talk on AI with Architect Professor Neil Leach. 

The GenAI Summit — Mark your calendar for November 20, 2024, and join the Marketing AI Institute’s virtual summit. Discover the tools and insights to navigate AI’s impact on agencies and business strategies in the future.

🏢 Beyond Design
Get your fill of AI news beyond the field of architecture.

Google to Develop AI That Takes Over Computers. Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google is developing artificial intelligence technology that takes over a web browser to complete tasks such as research and shopping. 

Microsoft launches GenAI Accelerator with NVIDIA and GitHub to boost AI start-ups in the UK. In partnership with tech leader NVIDIA and Microsoft-owned developer platform GitHub, the Microsoft GenAI Accelerator will provide exclusive resources and opportunities to companies looking to build, market, and scale up their generative AI products and services.

Thank you for subscribing to the AI for Architects newsletter, the official companion to the AI for Architects podcast hosted by Aya Shlachter! We're thrilled to have you with us as we explore the transformative role of AI in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

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