VR in Architecture – How Will Tech Change the Industry?

Technological advancements always precede changes within different industries; sometimes it’s scary, sometimes it’s exciting, and today, it is undeniable that the advent of consumer-grade Virtual Reality (VR) has started a paradigm shift for architecture firms. Emerging VR technologies are poised to change the design process, enhancing the experience for architects and clients alike. 

In this article, we will look at the transformative potential of VR in architecture as it reshapes how homes are envisioned, experienced, and realized.

VR in Architecture – What Can It Accomplish?

As of Q4 of 2023, Slocum Hall Design Group has begun using VR, and we’re excited to see what experiences it will create for clients and what tools it will provide us. Thanks to the incorporation of the  VR platform, our CAD drawings can have a new life and purpose beyond what anyone could have expected ten years ago. Modeled in 3D to our specifications, projects in the design phase can be experienced long before excavators break ground or any nail is hammered. 

This new tech has so much to offer, and it’s honestly jaw-dropping we’re only in the infancy of what’s to come. Our design team can now immerse themselves in their creations, walking through digital building models and learning how their drafts translate into reality. We’re not speaking in hyperbole here; our clients will be able to walk through their coastal cape or modern prairie design at any time of day, even under chosen weather conditions (rainy, sunny, sleeting?), months/years before their project completes construction. VR in architecture has the potential to elevate the design process, bridging the vision to the real world long before the real world needs to be involved. 

What Do We Envision?

Our hope for using VR goes beyond a fun parlor trick and the quick, gitty thrill of using a new toy. Our vision is to strengthen the client-architect relationship through a deeper and more immersive collaborative experience and process via VR technology.  

With realistic simulations, architects can explore intricate design elements with their clients, inviting them into a more “tangible” design experience; this can help both parties discover opportunities and potential vision conflicts that may not have been discovered otherwise until further down the process. 

As with any new technology, it’s not about the tool itself; it’s about how effectively/successfully it can be adopted, and as one of the premier architecture firms in Boston, we’re optimistic about where VR tools can take us. 
To learn more about our VR Tech and design processes, please Reach out today.