Autodesk Forma Campus Hackathon (NYCCT)

Introduction/Instructions

The Autodesk Forma Campus Hackathon invites students to explore how Autodesk Forma can support site analysis and inform architectural design decisions. This is a participation-focused opportunity that encourages students to document how they used Forma in their studio workflow, what they discovered, and how it influenced their understanding of their project site.

The challenge is centered on exploration and learning rather than competition or graphic perfection. Even simple tests, screenshots, and reflections are valuable and encouraged.

Autodesk Forma Campus Hackathon

Site Analysis → Design Decision Challenge

Overview

Mindset – think of this as participation opportunity rather than “portfolio Olympics.”

This open-entry campus hackathon invites students from the Architecture Department of New York City College of Technology to explore how Autodesk Forma can support site analysis and support to make informed architectural design decisions. Participants should document their process and provide evidence in how Forma tools helped them understand site conditions and how those insights shaped their project outcomes.

This challenge focuses on process clarity, data interpretation, and design thinking, rather than final visual polish alone.

Who Can Participate

1. Open to all students actively enrolled in Architectural Design 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, Thesis, Building Technology 4, Building Performance Workshop courses
2. Only individual submissions allowed (exception - Architectural Design 8)
3. Any project scale is accepted (urban, building, or landscape)

Challenge Objective

Use Autodesk Forma to analyze your project site and demonstrate how Forma insights informed your design decisions withing your class schedule for site analysis.

Submissions should clearly communicate:

1. What site conditions you analyzed
2. Which Forma tools or workflows you used
3. Written explanation of your thinking process and discoveries
4. Students beginning with Architectural Design 4 should compare traditional site analysis approach to Forma Site Analysis. 1-2 paragraphs of your thoughts.

Submission Intent

This challenge is focused on participation, exploration, and learning — not competition or presentation quality. Students are encouraged to submit honest documentation of their site analysis process using Autodesk Forma. It should not take you more than 3 hours to put submission PDF together, if it does – you are doing it wrong.

You are not expected to produce polished graphics, fully developed designs, or advanced technical mastery. Instead, submissions should simply demonstrate:

1. How did you use Forma during your site analysis?
2. What results or insights did you discover?
3. What did you learn?
4. How did those findings helped you understand your project site?

Strong submissions clearly communicate process and thinking rather than visual perfection.

Students are encouraged to treat this as an opportunity to document and reflect on their studio workflow rather than creating new work specifically for the challenge. (screenshots and snippets of study models are enough, focus on descriptions)

Submission Requirements

Participants must submit:

1. Site Analysis Results
2. Show the results of your Forma site analysis. This may include screenshots, exports, diagrams, or simple visual captures of your findings.

The goal is to demonstrate what Forma revealed about your site conditions.

1. Short Reflection
2. Provide a short written explanation (150–250 words) describing:
3. What information Forma helped you understand about your site
4. Whether the results confirmed or challenged your initial assumptions
5. How the analysis supported at least one design decision or project direction
6. Students in Architectural Design 4 and above should include a brief comparison between traditional site analysis and Forma-based analysis (1–2 paragraphs).

1. Submission Format
2. Submit one PDF containing:
3. Project title and course
4. Visual evidence of Forma site analysis results
5. Written reflection

Recommended length: choose yourself

Focus on clarity and documentation rather than graphic presentation.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will not be judged based on graphic quality or coherence of the project design. Instead, entries will be reviewed to recognize student engagement with Autodesk Forma and thoughtful exploration of site analysis.

Evaluation will focus on:

• Honest documentation of Forma site analysis results

• Clear explanation of what students learned from using Forma

• Demonstration of how Forma contributed to understanding site conditions

• Willingness to experiment with new tools and workflows

The goal of this challenge is to celebrate participation, learning, and discovery rather than competition or ranking.

Submission Deadline

March 10, 2026 at 18:00 (6:00 PM New York / Eastern Time – ET)

How to Submit

Fill out this Google Form

Additional Notes

This challenge encourages experimentation and learning. Projects do not need to be fully completed designs. Strong process documentation and thoughtful decision-making are highly valued.

Resources

Participants are encouraged to explore Autodesk Forma tutorials and documentation prior to submission.

Participants are encouraged to attend Autodesk Forma campus workshops, receive guidance if needed, and help with submission.

Questions can be directed to

vladislav.molchanov@mail.citytech.cuny.edu

Students will need access to:

• Laptop or computer wit

• Autodesk Forma (free access for students of City Tech)

• Their studio project site or design project

• Screenshot or export tools (Forma, Rhino, Revit, Illustrator, etc.)

• Camera for study models

• PDF editing or layout software (InDesign, PowerPoint, Illustrator, etc.)

No advanced rendering or graphic software is required.

Students should use Autodesk Forma to study their project site as part of their studio workflow.

You may explore:

1. Sun and shadow analysis
2. Environmental or climate data
3. Context modeling
4. Massing or layout testing
5. Any other Forma features relevant to your project

There is no requirement to use every feature. Focus on honest exploration that helps your project.

Document what Forma revealed about your site.

1. This can include:
2. Screenshots
3. Exported analysis images
4. Diagrams or overlays
5. Study models or quick visual tests

Simple documentation is encouraged. Polished graphics are not required.

Include a short explanation (150–250 words) describing:

1. What you learned from Forma
2. Whether results confirmed or challenged assumptions
3. How analysis influenced at least one design decision

Students in Architectural Design 4 and above must include a short comparison between traditional site analysis and Forma analysis (Additional 250 words min).

Create one PDF containing:

1. Project title
2. Course and instructor
3. Visual evidence of Forma site analysis
4. Written reflection
5. Anything else that showcases your work

Recommended length: 1–3 pages (not a requirement)

Focus on clarity, not graphic perfection. Make it you.

Upload your PDF using the official submission form:

File Name Format

Student Name_ARCH####_Professor Name

👉 Google Form

Submission Deadline:

March 10, 2026 at 6 PM (Eastern Time / New York)

All participants are invited to attend the Autodesk Forma Campus Hackathon celebration and showcase event. During this event, selected submissions will be highlighted, and participants will have the opportunity to see how others explored Forma in their projects.

Each completed submission automatically becomes a “mystery entry” into a special event giveaway. Participants attending the celebration will have a chance to discover what surprises may be waiting.

Event details will be announced following the submission deadline. Personalized emails will be sent with location and time.