Formitas GbR is founded (later to become Formitas AG), offering digital planning support and the programming of internet-based database applications. The founders: Frank Jacobi and Hagen Schmidt-Bleker. Both are university students, and both are still hard at work at formitas today. Their first projects: websites for architects and engineers. Shortly after: 3-D visualizations of construction projects.

In order to earn the title Architect, Hagen Schmidt-Bleker takes on a position at Carpus+Partner, a planning and architecture firm based in Aachen (later to become our sister company). The work at Formitas continues in the evenings (and nights).

Hagen makes advances with 3D CAD planning and is one of the pioneer users of Autodesk Architecture. Carpus+Partner commissions Formitas to develop a new financial controlling system. Hagen works as an architect by day, and as a programmer on the new system in the evenings with Frank.

Carpus+Partner and Formitas decide to join forces. Carpus+Partner's IT department migrates to the new company and there are new business areas: CAD, Architecture, Building Services and Process Technology. Thomas Geissler and Dirk Meinecke join the team as CAD administrators and consultants (for a total of five employees). The start-up offers IT services (today Digital Transformation) and 3D CAD (today Building Information Modeling).

Formitas, the Research Institute for Rationalization (FIR), the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering of RWTH Aachen University and Carpus+Partner take part in the research project "Services for the Industrial Construction Process". It marks the start of a long enduring relationship with the RWTH Aachen University. The project is an important milestone for Formitas, as they recognize that 3D CAD is the future. Goal for the next year: "We will be the leading German BIM specialists".

Formitas grows, now with ten employees and moves into new offices. Because of their ongoing relationship with FIR and WZL, they consider moving into offices at the new RWTH Campus Melaten. Formitas GmbH is one of the first companies to move into offices in Campus Boulevard 57 (still the company's headquarters).

Many new colleagues join the company, most of which are referred by a thriving network of contacts at the architecture faculty. The principle of joint decision-making becomes increasingly challenging with 15 employees. Formitas employees (formitaten) develop a new, unique organizational structure, taking elements from sociocracy and holocracy. It's a New Work structure which still holds today and continues to evolve.

Many employees live in Cologne, so the company considers opening an office there. During a Sunday stroll through the city, some formitaten think about which part of the city would be cool(est) for Formitas and come across the Rheinauhafen. It's now our Cologne office location.

Some of our Greek colleagues working in Aachen, Germany recruit freelance architects in Athens. Shortly after this, Formitas opens an office there, which now employs four people.

Joaquin Ramirez Brey, BIM Consultant and lecturer at Formitas Academy, opens the new office in Berlin, which now employs five people.

Formitas transforms from a Ltd. to a plc, opening up the opportunity for all employees to become shareholders. Prof. Peter Russel, who was an educator of many formitaten at the RWTH university, becomes a member of the company's supervisory board.

Formitas hires its 50th employee.