The intelligence layer for structural optimization in industrialized construction.
We build optimization software for the construction industry — starting with precast concrete, and expanding across the structural systems and workflows where better decisions compound into measurable cost, carbon, and performance gains.
Beyond software, we help manufacturers develop fundamentally better products. By running optimization against a manufacturer's actual mold inventory and material properties, we identify where new product lines — lighter sections, shallower profiles, novel geometries — would outperform what's in their catalogs today.
Forma Systems partnered with J.P. Carrara & Sons to design, cast, and load-test a shape-optimized multi-stemmed precast slab designed using Cimbra. The full-scale prototype was installed at Structures Congress 2026, supported by a MassCEC InnovateMass grant. Learn more here.
55%
lower weight + embodied carbon
vs. conventional non-prestressed flat slab
33%
lower weight
vs. 8″ hollowcore plank
1.25″
shallower section
vs. 8″ hollowcore plank
“We were particularly impressed by the multi-stemmed deck slab their software designed; the cross-sectional area was much leaner than expected for the given span and loads, resulting in a section half the weight of a standard hollow core plank. The section performance during load testing was outstanding, proving its robustness by carrying full loads without any signs of distress.”
“What stood out in this project was how readily the shape-optimized precast floors integrated into standard construction practices. From a construction perspective, lighter elements can support simpler logistics, reduced lifting requirements, and faster installation timelines. Coupled with the embodied carbon reduction potential, this type of innovation reflects the kind of practical, scalable advancement that aligns with Turner’s focus on safety, constructability, and driving lower-carbon solutions across the built environment.”
“Working with the team at Forma Systems was a positive experience for Prime Steel Erecting. What impressed us most was the ability of their slab system to provide the strength and performance of conventional precast members while significantly reducing weight. From an installation standpoint, the lighter slabs were efficient to handle and erect, integrating seamlessly into the construction process and contributing to a smooth and safe erection sequence. As a steel & precast erection contractor, we recognize the value that lighter structural components can bring to lifting operations, site logistics, and overall constructability, all while maintaining the structural performance expected of traditional systems. Based on our experience in the field, Forma Systems has developed an innovative and practical solution that represents a meaningful advancement in precast construction, offering benefits to contractors, owners, and the industry as a whole.”
Our partners and customers
Flagship product
Cimbra
Cimbra is our structural optimization platform for precast concrete. It explores tens of thousands of design configurations against a manufacturer's actual mold inventory, material library, and objectives — finding optimal designs in seconds that would take days by hand.
Spun Out of MIT. Built by Forma Systems. Made for Industry.
Forma Systems spun out of MIT's Digital Structures Research Group to bring structural optimization to the construction industry. Our team spans structural engineering, computational design, architecture, and physics-based simulation, combining MIT PhD-level expertise in building technology and structural systems with hands-on experience translating advanced computational methods into deployable solutions for industrialized construction.
Platform
Optimization as a platform, not a point tool
Cimbra is the first expression of a broader platform. The same optimization engine that finds optimal precast floor configurations today can be extended to additional structural systems, manufacturing workflows, and building codes — wherever design decisions are constrained by real manufacturing and construction parameters.
We partner with manufacturers and contractors to deploy optimization where it drives the most value: early in design, before decisions lock in cost and carbon.
Forma Systems reduces the cost and carbon footprint of concrete construction using a proprietary multiobjective optimization engine developed at MIT. By aligning with a manufacturer's specific inventory and material properties, the Cimbra software generates optimized geometries to ensure that material is placed only where structurally required.
Boston exhibit shows low-carbon construction is ready now. Organized in partnership with Buro Happold, Cambium Carbon, Forma Systems, Second Structure, Turner Construction Company, and MIT, the project comes five years into the SE 2050 Commitment and stands as both proof-of-concept and a call to action.
Work with us
We work directly with precast manufacturers and structural contractors. If you're evaluating Cimbra or interested in a solutions engagement, get in touch.