Nashville, Tennessee, September 17, 2025
News Summary
Autodesk unveiled a major expansion of its Forma platform into a full AECO industry cloud, linking design and construction workflows through cloud-connected, AI-native tools. Demonstrations showed end-to-end workflows from site modeling and cloud simulations to estimating, field issue capture with AI photo features, and handoff into operations with Tandem Insights. New offerings include Forma Board for collaborative design, a Forma Connected Client for Revit, Autodesk Assistant for natural-language project queries, and Autodesk Estimate for preconstruction. The announcements aim to reduce rework, speed decisions, and create a shared data environment across planning, construction, and facilities management.
Autodesk University 2025 Opens in Nashville; Major AECO Cloud and AI Announcements Unveiled
Autodesk University 2025 opened its three-day conference in Nashville, Tennessee, running September 16–18, 2025. The opening General Session presented a set of product and strategy updates aimed at architecture, engineering, construction, and operations professionals. The headline announcement was the evolution of Autodesk Forma into a comprehensive AECO industry cloud, paired with expanded cloud integrations and new AI-driven tools designed to connect design, construction, and operations workflows.
Top-line developments
The new Forma offering was positioned as an integrated industry cloud that links directly with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) to create end-to-end workflows across design, preconstruction, field, and operations. Demonstrations on the main stage showed a full workflow for a sustainable multifamily housing project, starting with site creation using terrain data and expanded Esri ArcGIS extensions and moving through design, cost, construction, and into operations.
AI and workflow automation
Several AI-centered capabilities were highlighted as part of a broader strategy to embed AI across the lifecycle. A new AI assistant is being introduced to desktop tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D to automate routine tasks, retrieve context-aware project data, and assist with document creation. A beta of the assistant expands natural-language access to project data including RFIs, submittals, change orders, schedule tasks, issues, and specifications, providing instant, context-rich responses.
A new estimating product was shown for preconstruction teams to link 2D and 3D takeoff quantities directly to estimates and update pricing in response to market changes. Field mobile tools on display included photo-driven issue capture with upcoming AI that auto-populates required fields from an image, plus mobile capture for daily logs and progress photos feeding project dashboards for real-time risk and performance insights.
Live demos and integration details
The General Session featured live walkthroughs. Key demo elements included Forma Board, a digital whiteboard tightly integrated with Forma Data Management for real-time collaboration; Forma Building Design for continuous, real-time design analysis; and a pre-beta demo of Forma Connected Client where Revit was shown as the first officially connected desktop client with live analysis of adjacent buildings. Cloud simulations were executed in the background to demonstrate a bridge between desktop workflows and cloud compute without interrupting design work.
Operations and digital twins
The workflow moved into operations using Tandem Insights, with AI surfacing summaries and operational data—such as performance metrics, warranties, and manuals—for building systems. The Tandem environment in the demo illustrated how facility teams can prioritize work orders and shift from reactive to proactive management by unifying model and facility data into a single dashboard.
Partner ecosystem and real projects
The session emphasized partner contributions and integrations across the AECO technology partner ecosystem. A notable case study presented a large airport that uses the construction cloud and Tandem to coordinate hundreds of contractors and support hundreds of active projects at once, unifying Revit and facility models as part of a single source of truth for ongoing operations. Representatives from that organization discussed the role of internal champions in driving digital adoption and in sharing lessons with other public-sector owners.
Use cases and customer examples
Multiple real-world implementations and session previews covered topics such as integrating ACC with financial systems for cost alignment, managing rail design and approvals digitally to cut paper and approval time, and deploying 5D dashboards on large infrastructure projects to streamline progress and billing. Other highlighted examples showed national rollouts for subcontractors, fabrication-ready MEP workflows, and integrations with AR for improved traceability and asset validation.
Sessions, expo, and conference focus
The conference program includes hundreds of sessions spanning data and analytics, cost control, schedule management, AI in construction, digital twins, fabrication-ready modeling, and more. Product teams and partners staffed the expo floor to demonstrate integrations and workflows. The event format emphasized in-person learning, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities to explore these tools and workflows in depth.
Context for the industry
The announcements were framed against industry pressures such as labor constraints, supply-chain strain, and rising demand for housing and infrastructure. The stated goal of the technology updates is to help firms improve outcomes while using fewer resources by automating tasks and improving collaboration around a shared, living source of truth for projects.
Timing and practical details
The conference takes place in Nashville from September 16–18, 2025. An early-registration discount was noted for registrations completed by a specified earlier date; interested professionals were advised to consult event registration channels directly for current availability and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was announced at the General Session?
The main announcements included the evolution of Forma into an AECO industry cloud, integrations between Forma and Autodesk Construction Cloud, new AI tools for desktop and cloud workflows, and demonstrations of end-to-end project workflows from design through operations.
When and where is the event?
The conference runs September 16–18, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
What is Forma in this context?
Forma is presented as an industry cloud for AECO workflows that integrates site and design data, data management, collaboration tools, and connects into the construction and operations toolchain.
What is Autodesk Assistant?
An AI-powered assistant being added to desktop and cloud products to automate tasks, provide context-aware answers from project data, and help generate documents and communications. A beta expands natural-language queries across project records.
How does the demo show integration with Revit and cloud services?
Revit was shown as a connected desktop client in pre-beta form, with live analysis and cloud simulations running in the background to inform design without interrupting workflow.
Were real customer projects discussed?
Yes. Presentations included a major airport using cloud tools for hundreds of concurrent projects, and multiple contractor and owner case studies covering cost management, fabrication-ready workflows, and national rollouts.
Where can I learn more about sessions and technical details?
Session schedules, catalogs, and detailed abstracts are published by the event organizers; attendees can consult the official session catalog and expo listings for the latest schedule.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | What it does | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Forma AECO Industry Cloud | Integrates site, design, data management, and collaboration across the AECO lifecycle | Announced / Available |
| Forma + Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) | Bridges design and construction workflows for end-to-end project continuity | Announced / Integrating |
| Forma Board | Digital whiteboard for real-time collaborative design decision-making | Demo / Available |
| Forma Connected Client (Revit) | Desktop client connection enabling live analysis and cloud-backed simulations | Pre-beta demo |
| Autodesk Assistant | AI assistant automating tasks and answering natural-language project queries | Rolling out / Beta |
| Autodesk Estimate | Links 2D/3D takeoffs to estimates for faster preconstruction decisions | Introduced / Cloud roadmap |
| Field mobile tools with AI photo | Capture issues and auto-populate documentation fields from photos | Demo / Coming |
| Tandem Insights | Operational dashboards and AI summaries for building systems and assets | Demo / Available |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Autodesk Blog: AU 2025 — Top Autodesk Construction Announcements
- Wikipedia: Autodesk University
- Autodesk Blog: Register Now for Autodesk University 2025
- Google Search: Autodesk University 2025 registration
- Autodesk Blog: Top Sessions for Project Managers at AU 2025
- Google Scholar: Autodesk University 2025 project management
- Autodesk Blog: Session Preview — Preconstruction at AU 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Preconstruction
- Autodesk Blog: AU 2025 Top Sessions for Subcontractors
- Google News: Autodesk Forma AECO industry cloud
Author: Construction TX News
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