What’s New in Revit 2027: AI‑Powered, Connected, and Carbon‑Aware

What’s New in Revit 2027: AI‑Powered, Connected, and Carbon‑Aware

by | Apr 13, 2026 | AEC, Autodesk, BIM, Revit

Revit 2027 is here, and it’s a big release. Autodesk has packed this version with AI‑driven assistance, deeper Autodesk Forma integration, richer data, and a long list of practical modeling and documentation upgrades that teams will actually feel in production.

Autodesk Assistant: AI Inside Your Revit Model

Autodesk Assistant is the headline feature in Revit 2027: an AI “copilot” that lives inside Revit and understands both your model and your intent. Instead of being just an online help search, it can query the model, automate tasks, and generate elements based on natural‑language prompts.

For newer or occasional Revit users, this lowers the barrier to getting useful work done. Someone who isn’t fully comfortable with all the dialogs and ribbon commands can type: “Create Level 3 floor plans, tag all rooms, and make a room schedule,” and the Assistant can orchestrate that workflow. It’s a way to get value from Revit without remembering every button and parameter.

For veteran users and BIM managers, the Assistant is a force multiplier rather than a crutch. It can help with:

  • Quick QA checks (“List all doors that don’t meet our fire rating standard.”)

  • Repetitive processing (batch renaming views, creating sheets, standard exports).

  • Model interrogation (“Which rooms have the wrong department code?”).

The net result is more time spent on design decisions and less on mechanical, repetitive steps.

Connected Workflows with Autodesk Forma

Revit 2027 also deepens its integration with Autodesk Forma, extending BIM beyond a single desktop file into a connected cloud ecosystem.

Key Forma‑related updates include:

  • Forma Connected Client (tech preview): You can see the same project data in Revit and Forma without constant exports and imports, enriching your model with real‑world context like terrain, surroundings, and environmental data.

  • Bundled Forma access: Revit subscriptions now include Forma Data Management Essentials, Site Design, Building Design, and Forma Board, establishing a shared data backbone from early site studies to detailed design.

  • Direct sustainability workflows: From the Analyze tab you can tap Forma wind analysis and carbon insights, bringing early‑stage performance feedback into everyday Revit workflows.

This shift from “disconnected tools” to a connected environment is one of the most important strategic changes in the Revit 2027 generation.

Smarter Carbon and Analysis Tools

Sustainability targets used to live mostly in slide decks and certification checklists. Revit 2027 brings carbon and performance closer to the core design workflow, which benefits both designers and owners responsible for portfolio‑level ESG commitments.

With direct access to carbon insights from within Revit, design teams can evaluate embodied and operational carbon as part of iterative design—swapping materials, massing, or systems and immediately seeing the impact. This makes carbon more like cost or area: a number that informs everyday trade‑offs instead of a retrospective report.

The new Carbon asset in Materials, connected to widely used carbon databases, gives each material a quantifiable footprint. That’s valuable in several ways:

  • Designers can favor lower‑carbon options without leaving Revit.

  • Specification teams can align material choices with carbon targets.

  • Facilities and sustainability teams can understand the embodied carbon “locked into” their assets from day one.

For owners running large portfolios, this becomes another dimension of data they can track across projects and over time.

Everyday Modeling and Documentation Upgrades

As BIM has matured, one pain point has remained constant: the tug‑of‑war between the design model and all the external spreadsheets, databases, and bespoke property sets that live alongside it. Revit 2027 leans into solving this with richer, more structured data capabilities.

Extended Properties allow you to store additional data that can be governed in the cloud but used directly inside Revit. For architecture firms, this means you can align model parameters with project standards and external systems more cleanly, reducing ad‑hoc shared parameters that no one can track.

For facilities management clients, this is even more important. With Extended Properties and better parameter consistency:

  • Asset data (IDs, warranty info, service intervals) can be embedded in the model rather than spread across spreadsheets.

  • Handover models can be mapped more reliably into CAFM/CMMS platforms.

  • Space and asset information remains traceable from early design through operations.

In practical terms, that means fewer data‑entry headaches at occupancy and a stronger digital thread from design to maintenance.

Below are more details on particular "daily use" enhancements that will quietly save time on almost every project:

Walls and UI refinements

  • Walls hosted on walls: You can now host one wall on another using a new Hosted Wall option, with Auto Join handling openings and cleaning up wall lines automatically.

  • Modernized interface: The legacy Options Bar is removed or relocated into the ribbon, simplifying the UI and reducing visual clutter in the drawing area.

  • Faster, smoother graphics: Revit 2027 improves accelerated graphics performance, including better handling of section boxes and linked models, plus faster opening of large projects with lower memory use.

Tagging, numbering, and annotation

  • Rule‑based numbering: A new rule‑driven numbering tool extends beyond rebar to general elements, supporting consistent numbering for doors, rooms, details, and more.

  • Tag leader enhancements: Tag leaders behave more predictably, with improved controls for multi‑category tags and better behavior when tagging complex assemblies.

  • Stair tread/riser annotations: Tread and riser numbering is now driven by type parameters, with separate control above and below cut lines in plans, reducing the need for view‑specific overrides.

  • Linked model lineweight control: You get more refined control over how linked models display, including lineweights, which helps maintain graphic standards across multi‑model projects.

These changes don’t grab headlines like AI, but they directly impact sheet production and model hygiene in everyday work.

Structural and MEP Enhancements

Revit 2027 also makes meaningful improvements for structural and MEP teams, particularly around analytical modeling and reinforcement.

For structure:

  • Analytical model automation: The analytical model updates more reliably from physical changes while preserving connectivity, loads, and boundary conditions, reducing rework before export to analysis tools.

  • Concrete and rebar workflows: A dedicated Concrete tab, automatic section property calculations for beams and columns, improved rebar sets, and upgraded rebar spacing and splicing logic all help with constructible reinforcement modeling.

  • Consistent behavior across LODs: Steel elements now behave more consistently as you move between levels of detail, improving both coordination and documentation.

For MEP:

  • System‑zones and loads: HVAC zones evolve into more intelligent “System‑Zones,” with corresponding improvements in heating and cooling load analysis.

  • Fabrication and content: Editing and documentation of MEP fabrication parts is smoother, and the MEP content editor receives refinements for more efficient content creation.

Underlying all of this, Dynamo and automation capabilities see performance and platform updates, supporting more robust scripting across disciplines.

Performance, Large Models, and Connected Workflows

Finally, Revit 2027 makes tangible improvements to the feel of working in large, complex projects—exactly the kind of models that both design teams and facilities departments rely on.

Performance optimizations mean:

  • Large, linked models open faster and use less memory.

  • Section boxes and 3D views are more responsive when navigating big federated models.

  • Graphic display is smoother in typical production views.

For architecture teams, this means fewer slowdowns during coordination and fewer “coffee breaks” while models open. For facilities teams working with as‑built or digital twin models, it makes navigation feasible on everyday hardware.

The deeper integration with cloud‑based tools also matters here. Early‑stage site and massing work in complementary platforms can feed into Revit more fluidly, while analysis (energy, wind, carbon) feels like part of the same ecosystem rather than a separate, one‑off workflow. That connectedness is what allows information created during design to remain useful during operations.

Interoperability & Data Management tools found only in AEC Collection

  • Desktop Connector: Required for managing cloud data and collaboration workflows on the Autodesk Construction Cloud.

  • Forma Connected Client (Tech Preview): An environment that allows you to see the exact same project data in both Revit and Forma without constant exporting and importing.

If you are evaluating this software as part of a broader corporate package, you can explore the expanded tools found in the Autodesk AEC Collection.

Robotech CAD Solutions can help your teams get the most out of Revit 2027 with targeted training for both new and experienced users. We also provide licensing and implementation support to streamline your upgrade.
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Reimagining Penn Station: New York’s Ambitious 2027 Transformation Plans

Reimagining Penn Station: New York’s Ambitious 2027 Transformation Plans

by | Apr 10, 2026 | Autodesk, BIM

A major transformation is underway for New York’s Pennsylvania Station as Amtrak and the U.S. Department of Transportation revealed an ambitious plan to overhaul the nation’s busiest transit hub, targeting a construction start by the end of 2027. Announced jointly by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Amtrak Special Advisor Andy Byford, the project seeks to address decades of criticism about the station’s overcrowded, outdated, and uninspiring facilities, with a focus on efficiency, passenger experience, and regional economic impact.​

Andy Byford, renowned for his past leadership revitalizing London’s Elizabeth Line and New York City Transit, brings a reputation for delivering complex transit projects. As the new steward for the Penn Station effort, Byford is prioritizing an operational rethink—most notably, the long-debated idea of “through-running” trains rather than terminating all routes at Penn. This operational shift is widely viewed by transit advocates as aligning with global best practices and maximizing the efficiency of Penn’s 21 tracks, potentially doubling peak service without the need for vast physical expansion.​

The path forward marks a move away from previously discussed plans to demolish the block south of the station in order to add more tracks—a proposal now on hold as Amtrak and DOT focus first on throughput and operational enhancements within the existing footprint. This decision comes as a relief to advocates and residents concerned about the scale and disruption of demolishing adjacent city blocks and businesses.​

At the heart of the project is the pursuit of a world-class, modern, safe, and accessible Penn Station that serves New Yorkers and visitors alike. Plans include a new commuter train hall, improved passenger concourses, better accessibility, and expanded green spaces for the neighborhood. There remain unresolved issues, such as the possible relocation of Madison Square Garden, which currently sits above much of the station; the future of this iconic arena will be decided as master planning advances.​

Stakeholders from city, state, and federal levels are backing the transformation, recognizing both the chronic shortcomings of the current station and the importance of a seamless, well-connected transit gateway to New York’s continued economic vitality. Governor Hochul and city officials have publicly supported the accelerated timeline and the prospect of reimagining Penn as a national transit landmark.​

Advocacy groups such as ReThinkNYC have praised Byford’s willingness to champion through-running, viewing it as a win-win for ridership and affordable, sustainable urban development. The vision aligns with federal policy priorities and emerging urban mobility trends, aiming to leverage infrastructure investments for maximum public benefit.​

As one of the nation’s most prominent infrastructure undertakings, Penn Station’s forthcoming redevelopment is set to transform the experience of millions, promising not just a brighter station but a more connected and vibrant New York for decades to come.​

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Making Hybrid Work: How Archibus and Smart FM Keep Your Workplace Future‑Ready

Making Hybrid Work: How Archibus and Smart FM Keep Your Workplace Future‑Ready

by | Mar 31, 2026 | ARCHIBUS, Facilities Management

Hybrid work can be a long-term advantage when it is intentional, well-structured, and supported by the right digital tools—and Robotech helps organizations build exactly that foundation with Archibus at the core of their facilities management strategy. For companies managing offices, campuses, hospitals, or distributed portfolios, hybrid work is an opportunity to improve collaboration, reduce real estate waste, and create a better employee experience—provided they can clearly see how space is used and respond quickly as needs change.

Why hybrid work still matters

Hybrid work is no longer a temporary response to disruption; it is becoming a permanent operating model that can strengthen organizational health when designed thoughtfully. Organizations that deliberately define how and where work happens often see better clarity, stronger culture, and more engaged teams compared with ad‑hoc arrangements. For facilities, workplace, and real estate leaders, this means treating the workplace like a dynamic asset—continually tuned to support people and teams, not a fixed layout that slowly falls out of sync with how work is actually done.

Six priorities for healthy hybrid work

Organizations that thrive with hybrid work tend to follow six core practices.

  • Remove ambiguity about working practices: Clearly define who works where and when, set expectations for in‑person versus remote work, and make it easy to understand how to use space—from hot-desking to team neighborhoods to collaboration zones.

  • Reset performance expectations: Move away from equating “being in the office” with productivity and instead measure teams on outcomes, ensuring remote and on-site staff are evaluated consistently.

  • Be transparent: Create a single, accessible “source of truth” for policies, booking rules, and workplace standards so everyone knows how to navigate the hybrid environment.

  • Be purposeful about where people work: Reserve in-person time for “moments that matter”—strategy sessions, kickoff meetings, onboarding—while carefully enabling focused, individual work wherever it happens best.

  • Foster trust and support: Build a culture where people feel supported regardless of location, with leaders modeling flexibility and using the workplace to enable, not police, work.

  • Test and learn: Treat hybrid work as an evolving model, using space utilization data, employee feedback, and facilities metrics to refine policies and layouts over time.

These principles apply whether you are a traditional Robotech client or an organization in another industry that still needs to manage a complex mix of people, places, and assets.

How Archibus supports hybrid workplaces

A major challenge in hybrid work is understanding how your physical space is actually used—who needs to be on-site, when they come in, and what kind of workspaces they need. With rising rent and operating costs, underused floors, desks, and meeting rooms represent a significant, ongoing drain on resources. Archibus addresses this by providing an integrated workplace and facility management platform that connects space inventory, floor plans, occupancy, services, and maintenance in one place, giving you the visibility needed to support hybrid work with confidence.

Using Archibus, organizations can:

  • Track space utilization in detail: Monitor occupancy and usage by building, floor, department, or team to reveal underutilized zones and identify opportunities to consolidate or repurpose space.

  • Align seating with hybrid schedules: Design neighborhoods and seating plans that reflect hybrid patterns, ensuring that the right mix of desks, focus rooms, and collaboration spaces is available on the days people choose to be on-site.

  • Manage moves and reconfigurations efficiently: Coordinate move, add, and change projects as policies evolve, keeping floor plans, headcounts, and work orders synchronized in a single system.

  • Streamline workplace services: Integrate work requests, maintenance, and workplace services with space data so the facilities team can respond quickly to how hybrid work is reshaping demand across your portfolio.

Because Archibus serves a wide range of sectors—corporate offices, higher education, healthcare, government, and beyond—these capabilities help both traditional facilities groups and newer workplace strategy teams design environments that remain flexible and efficient as hybrid work matures.

How Robotech helps you make hybrid work

Robotech CAD Solutions sits at the intersection of facilities management, workplace strategy, and digital transformation. As a long-standing Archibus partner, Robotech doesn’t just deploy software; it helps organizations translate hybrid-work goals into a practical, data-driven FM and workplace model built on Archibus.

Robotech can help your organization:

  • Assess your current workplace and space utilization: Using Archibus, Robotech works with you to analyze how your portfolio is used today, highlighting underused areas, capacity constraints, and scenarios for hybrid seating and scheduling.

  • Design and implement a hybrid-ready FM platform: Robotech configures Archibus modules—such as space management, moves, workplace services, and mobile tools—to support your policies, processes, and reporting needs.

  • Train facilities and workplace teams: Through targeted Archibus training, Robotech enables your staff to own day-to-day operations, from updating floor plans to managing service requests and tracking occupancy trends.

  • Support continuous optimization: Robotech helps you build dashboards, reporting, and feedback loops so you can “test and learn” over time—adjusting layouts, policies, and service levels as hybrid work patterns evolve.

Whether you are already using Archibus or exploring how to better support hybrid work across your facilities portfolio, Robotech’s mission is to help you create a flexible, data-informed workplace strategy that benefits both your organization and your people.

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Autodesk Construction Cloud is now part of Autodesk Forma: What’s next for your company?

Autodesk Construction Cloud is now part of Autodesk Forma: What’s next for your company?

by | Mar 26, 2026 | Architecture, Autodesk, BIM

Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) is being brought under the Autodesk Forma umbrella as part of Autodesk’s new, single industry cloud for AECO, but your day‑to‑day workflows will largely remain the same.

Autodesk Construction Cloud is now part of Autodesk Forma: What Robotech customers need to know

Autodesk has announced a major evolution in its cloud strategy for the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry: Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) is now part of Autodesk Forma, Autodesk’s AI‑native, end‑to‑end industry cloud. This change is primarily about unifying branding and data under a single platform, not about disrupting how you work today.

At Robotech CAD Solutions, we want to clarify what this means for your projects, licenses, and daily workflows so you can move forward with confidence.

One connected industry cloud, not a new product

Forma is Autodesk’s industry cloud that connects teams, workflows, and data across planning, design, construction, and operations in a single environment. ACC’s construction management capabilities are being incorporated into this broader Forma platform so design and construction can operate on the same connected foundation instead of separate silos.

In practice, this means:

  • You will see the Forma name and branding where you previously saw Autodesk Construction Cloud.

  • Design and construction data are intended to live in one shared, cloud‑native environment, improving continuity from early design through handover.

  • AI‑powered capabilities in Forma can now act across the full lifecycle, from early‑stage site analysis to downstream construction and operations decisions.

What is not changing for your projects

The most important point for current Robotech customers: your existing ACC projects and workflows will continue to function as they do today. Subscriptions, permissions, folder structures, integrations, automations, and APIs will remain intact, and no data migration is required for current ACC or Forma customers.

Concretely:

  • Your current modules keep working: Build remains Build, Takeoff remains Takeoff, Estimate remains Estimate, with names gradually aligning to Forma.

  • The ACC mobile app will continue to function as before, with changes largely limited to branding and ongoing roadmap updates.

  • The user interface and layout you rely on will stay familiar, with incremental experience improvements over time and Forma branding layered in.

You should not need to relearn tools or reconfigure environments simply because ACC is now under the Forma brand.

New naming: how key products are being rebranded

As part of this transition, several Autodesk cloud products are being renamed to align under the Forma industry cloud. Functionality remains the same; the new names are meant to reflect a unified, connected platform:

  • Autodesk Docs → Forma Data Management

  • Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro → Forma Design Collaboration

  • Autodesk Build → Forma Build

  • Autodesk Takeoff → Forma Takeoff

  • Autodesk Estimate → Forma Estimate

  • Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect (ACC Connect) → Forma Construction Connect

  • Preconstruction Bundle → Forma for Preconstruction

  • Model Management Bundle → Forma for Model Management

  • Construction Operations Bundle → Forma for Construction Operations

You will start to see these new product names reflected in Autodesk websites, contracts, licensing, and Autodesk Account as the rollout progresses.

Forma Data Management as the new common data environment

A key part of this shift is the evolution of Autodesk Docs into Forma Data Management, which now serves as the common data environment at the core of Forma. Rather than just cloud file storage, Forma Data Management is designed as a centralized, cloud‑native project data environment that supports connected collaboration across planning, design, construction, and operations.

Notably for design and engineering teams:

  • Forma Data Management Essentials is now included with standalone subscriptions to tools like AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, and the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection.

  • This gives many teams direct access to the same connected project environment from the desktop tools they already use, strengthening data continuity into construction.

Over time, this connected foundation should help reduce manual file transfers, version chasing, and data handoffs between design and construction teams.

What Robotech customers should do now

You do not need to overhaul anything on your side, but there are a few simple checks and actions that will help ensure a smooth transition:

  • Review Autodesk communications: Keep an eye on Autodesk emails, product announcements, and in‑product messages so you recognize the new Forma names as they appear in your environment.

  • Confirm access and roles: After the naming changes appear, verify that your users can still access their projects and that roles, permissions, and project memberships look correct in your existing hubs.

  • Update internal documentation: If you maintain internal guides, SOPs, or onboarding documents that mention “Autodesk Construction Cloud” or legacy product names (Docs, Build, BIM Collaborate Pro, etc.), plan to update them to the new Forma naming so your team is not confused.

  • Validate integrations and automations: If you use any integrations, connectors, or custom automations that reference ACC products, schedule a quick sanity check after the change to confirm everything continues to run as expected.

  • Communicate with your teams: Let project teams know that this is primarily a branding and platform‑unification change so they are not surprised by the Forma name and understand that their day‑to‑day workflows should remain familiar.

What this means for Robotech customers going forward

For Robotech CAD Solutions customers, the Forma transition brings three main benefits without disrupting your current setups:

  • Continuity: Your existing ACC‑based workflows, integrations, and project structures continue as‑is, with no required migrations.

  • Clarity: Product names and branding will update to Forma, but capabilities you depend on remain, and Autodesk’s investment in construction tools and roadmaps stays strong.

  • Connection: As Forma matures, you gain more value from connected data, AI‑driven insights, and smoother collaboration from early‑stage design through field execution and operations.

Robotech will continue to support you through this change, from explaining new naming and subscription implications to helping your teams take advantage of Forma’s connected, data‑driven capabilities as they expand. If you have any additional questions about this change or how it may impact your specific setup, please reach out to your Robotech representative for assistance.

Urban Office Makeovers: Inside the Rise of Downtown Apartment Conversions

Urban Office Makeovers: Inside the Rise of Downtown Apartment Conversions

by | Mar 9, 2026 | Architecture

American cities are increasingly viewing vacant office suites as an untapped housing resource, especially in transit-rich neighborhoods where demand for homes far exceeds supply. In Washington, D.C., developers like Post Brothers are transforming underused office buildings into hundreds of apartments, recognizing that locations once marginal for corporate tenants can be ideal for residents. By working with existing structures instead of starting from scratch, they can move more quickly from concept to occupancy while preserving embedded urban infrastructure. At the same time, these projects respond to a larger cultural shift in how and where people work, as hybrid and remote models reduce the need for traditional office footprints. The result is a quiet but meaningful reshaping of downtown cores, from nine-to-five business districts into mixed-use communities that remain active around the clock.

The numbers driving this trend are stark: office vacancies have climbed nationwide in the wake of long-term remote work adoption, while the national housing shortage is now measured in the millions of units. In D.C., city leaders have embraced adaptive reuse as a policy priority, supporting office-to-residential projects through incentives such as multi-decade property tax abatements to make complex conversions financially viable. Since 2024, the city has completed multiple conversions that together have delivered thousands of new apartments, with more projects in the pipeline. Developers like Post Brothers have already completed several office transformations and are now undertaking the city’s largest conversion to date. These efforts are mirrored in other major metros—from New York to Dallas—suggesting that office reuse is becoming an important tool in urban housing strategies.

On the ground, conversions are both architectural and economic balancing acts. Structurally, many office towers offer solid foundations and cores that can be retained, saving time and cost, while facades and windows are reimagined to maximize natural light and residential appeal. Interiors that once housed cubicles and conference rooms are reorganized into smaller, efficient units, with new amenities like pools, dog parks, and shared lounges layered in to match contemporary expectations of urban living. Economically, developers must reconcile market realities with public goals: high construction and financing costs push many projects toward premium rents, while only a portion of units can be reserved as affordable housing under current capital constraints. Even when the share of below-market apartments is modest, these projects still add supply in high-demand central locations where building new ground-up housing can be especially difficult.

Industry experts caution that conversions, while useful, are not a silver bullet for the housing crisis. The scale of unmet housing need far exceeds what can realistically be delivered through office reuse alone, given that only a subset of office buildings have the right floor plates, window access, and structural layouts to become successful residences. Yet these projects do “kill two birds with one stone,” modestly reducing surplus office space while adding homes in walkable, transit-served neighborhoods that already benefit from public investment. They also represent a broader pattern of economic adaptation, analogous to how obsolete factories were once repurposed into lofts and live–work spaces as manufacturing declined. As companies reconfigure their space needs and workers’ relationships with the office continue to evolve, adaptive reuse allows cities to realign their built environments with contemporary patterns of life and work.

How BIM-enabled Workflow can support Adaptive Reuse

Throughout this transformation, Building Information Modeling (BIM) can play a pivotal role in making office-to-residential conversions more efficient, coordinated, and predictable. A robust BIM process allows project teams to capture existing conditions in rich 3D models, test multiple unit layouts against structural constraints, and simulate daylight, egress, and MEP routing before any demolition begins. Clash detection, phasing, and quantity takeoffs can be managed within a shared digital environment, helping owners, architects, engineers, and contractors make informed decisions about what to keep, what to remove, and where to invest. As cities push for more adaptive reuse, BIM-enabled workflows can reduce risk, compress schedules, and support better design outcomes, turning yesterday’s cubicle farms into tomorrow’s resilient neighborhoods with greater confidence and clarity.

Interested in using Revit in your Office?

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