Forma

What Forma does

FORMA is a boutique architecture firm founded in 2018 in New York City by Miroslava Brooks and Daniel Markiewicz. The practice operates two service lines: "Homes," focused on residential commissions for private clients, and "Commons," focused on civic and cultural projects for institutional and municipal clients. Across both lines, FORMA delivers the full architectural service stack from initial visioning and concept design through construction documentation and construction administration. Project scope spans adaptive reuse, affordable housing, cultural facilities, single-family residences, and inclusive public space, with completed work in the United States and internationally (Italy, Mozambique, Rwanda, Bulgaria, Slovakia).

The firm's revenue model follows the standard architecture professional services model: fee-based compensation tied to project scope, typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or a fixed fee, billed in phases (schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction administration). FORMA supplements fee revenue with competition-derived income and visibility; competition entries have produced both commissioned work and prize-based compensation. The firm is privately held and bootstrapped, with no disclosed outside funding. Following its 2018 founding, FORMA expanded from a single New York office to a three-office practice in 2023 with openings in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

FORMA has accumulated substantial third-party media coverage (Dezeen, ArchDaily, Architectural Record, Wallpaper*) and a competition portfolio that includes the Atlantic Beach Inclusive Playground, the Miami House Competition, and the Playscapes Competition. The firm holds institutional relationships with entities such as Yale, the City of Bratislava, the Town of Atlantic Beach, and the Karin Dom Foundation, and its residential work has been cited as a benchmark in sustainable construction, including a project demonstrating a 70% reduction in embodied carbon.

Name

Forma

Legal name

FORMA Architects PLLC

Website

https://formany.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FORMA is a boutique architecture firm founded in 2018 in New York, delivering residential ("Homes") and civic/cultural ("Commons") projects through visioning, design, and construction administration, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Family Home Construction (Detached Homes) (IMAFABAA), New School Construction (Greenfield Builds) (EDAEABAA)

Keywords

• Residential architecture services
• Civic and cultural architecture
• Construction administration services
• Sustainable building design
• Architectural competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: FORMA provides visioning, design, and construction administration services to private clients for residential and commercial projects. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for commissioned architecture work, including feasibility studies, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration.
2. Competition Prize Winnings: The firm participates in architectural competitions and receives prize money, recognition, and publicity from competition wins (e.g., 2nd Prize Atlantic Beach Boardwalk, Honorable Mention Grössling Baths, etc.)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FORMA is an architecture studio providing visioning, design, and construction administration services to private clients. The firm works across residential projects (single-family homes, multi-family buildings, gut renovations, additions, and multi-generational living) and civic, cultural, and institutional projects (schools, libraries, public spaces, community centers, and chapels). Revenue is generated through professional service fees for commissioned architecture work, supported by an active competition practice that produces experimental and award-winning projects.

Product overview

FORMA is a full-service architecture firm offering two primary service lines: Homes (residential architecture) and Commons (civic, cultural, and institutional architecture). The firm provides visioning, design, and construction administration services for private clients across residential and commercial projects. Through competitions and self-driven initiatives, they also explore larger cultural and public realm projects. Their portfolio includes residential projects ranging from compact apartments and gut renovations to multi-generational houses, as well as civic projects including educational facilities, libraries, bathhouses, chapels, and public installations. The firm was founded in 2018 in New York City and expanded to Los Angeles and Philadelphia in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homes (Residential Architecture Services) Residential architecture services encompassing single-family houses, multi-family housing, gut renovations, additions, and multi-generational living projects. Projects range from compact urban apartments to rural houses, including sustainable and ecologically sensitive renovations. The offering covers the full project lifecycle from feasibility studies through construction administration.
• Commons (Civic, Cultural & Institutional Architecture) Civic, cultural, and institutional architecture services exploring new forms of collectivity through public spaces, educational facilities, cultural venues, and community centers. Engagements are sourced through direct commissions and international design competitions, serving nonprofit, government, and institutional clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70% reduction in embodied carbon compared to conventional construction (SE 2050 demonstration project)

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Studio ZimmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Studio Zimm on Small Lots, Big Impact competition submission for UCLA/cityLAB initiative to turn vacant small lots into new starter homes in Los Angeles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SO-IL: NYC-based architecture firm founded by Florian Idenburg and Jing Liu, with academic ties to Harvard GSD and Columbia GSAPP respectively. Highly comparable to Forma in scale, design-forward positioning, civic/cultural portfolio, and rising-firm trajectory.
• Frida Escobedo Studio: Mexico City-based architecture firm with a parallel rising-talent trajectory, including Architectural Record Design Vanguard recognition and major cultural commissions. Comparable to Forma in scale, design pedigree, and international profile.
• Marvel Architects: NYC-based boutique architecture firm led by Jonathan Marvel with a design-forward, civic/cultural portfolio. Comparable to Forma in scale, geographic base, and emphasis on formal clarity in residential and institutional work.
• nARCHITECTS: NYC-based architecture firm founded by Eric Bunge and Mimi Hoang with academic ties to Harvard GSD. Comparable to Forma in scale, civic focus, multi-family housing expertise, and rising-firm trajectory.
• Weiss/Manfredi: NYC-based architecture firm led by Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi with a strong civic/cultural and landscape-integrated portfolio. Comparable to Forma in NYC base, civic/institutional project type, and design-forward ethos.
• MASS Design Group: Boston-based architecture firm with a mission-driven focus on civic, educational, and healthcare projects domestically and internationally. Comparable to Forma in civic/institutional project type, sustainability focus, and international competition engagement.
• Kéré Architecture: Berlin-based architecture firm led by Diébédo Francis Kéré, focused on civic, educational, and cultural buildings in Africa and internationally. Comparable to Forma in international civic/school project portfolio, sustainability ethos, and award-winning design approach.
• Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO: Mexico City-based architecture firm with a strong civic, residential, and cultural portfolio across Latin America. Comparable to Forma in design-forward approach, civic/residential mix, and international project engagement.
• Brooks + Scarpa: LA-based architecture firm known for sustainable, civic, and affordable housing projects with multiple AIA awards. Comparable to Forma in sustainability focus, civic/residential project mix, and design-led boutique practice model.
• COOKFOX Architects: NYC-based architecture firm specializing in biophilic, sustainability-driven, and high-performance design across residential, commercial, and civic projects. Comparable to Forma in NYC base, sustainability expertise, and residential/civic portfolio mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forma-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forma