How is VR in construction transforming the industry?

The construction industry is changing at a rapid pace. Spending in the US alone topped USD 2 trillion in 2024 and it isn't slowing down.¹ A 2025 outlook from Deloitte points to continued growth, thanks to new infrastructure projects, urbanisation, the energy transition and – crucially – digital innovation.²

To make the most of this growth, construction companies are turning to smart tools, automation and analytics. For years, the heart of this digital shift has been building information modelling (BIM) – the process of creating 3D construction models packed with real-world data.

While these models are rich with information, viewing them on a 2D screen can make it difficult to grasp the scale and complexity of a project. Using virtual reality (VR) in construction is helping to overcome this challenge. The immersive technology brings BIM data to life, letting teams step inside the models to design, build and manage projects more intuitively. This leads to better-informed decisions and significantly less rework on site.

Here, we run through the key areas where VR in construction is having the biggest impact, helping to drive the industry forwards.

What is construction management software?

Think of construction management software as the digital command centre for a modern building project. It's a platform designed to bring every part of the project together in one place – including everything needed for planning, execution and the final handover. This creates a single source of truth, keeping all of your teams and stakeholders in sync.

So what does it do? Key features include tools for scheduling, managing documents such as drawings or 3D models and real-time communication that connects teams. These platforms also handle tasks such as budgeting, resource allocation, requests for information (RFIs) and site inspections.

Where does VR come in?

VR builds on existing technology to view construction data immersively. While construction management software provides the project's foundation, VR apps are what bring the data to life in Meta Quest headsets. For large teams, this roll-out can then be managed by Meta Horizon managed solutions – a platform that provides the necessary tools for deployment and device management at scale.

These immersive apps aren't stand-alone platforms. Instead, they plug into the software that you already use, such as Procore and Autodesk. This allows teams to interact with complex 3D models in an immersive space, adding an important new dimension to design reviews, training and project management.

Below, we look at the key areas where VR on Meta Quest, along with these applications, are driving innovation across the industry – supported by real-world case studies.

How is VR driving innovation in construction design?

In the design phase of construction, getting everyone on the same page quickly is vital. VR is collapsing traditional timelines by transforming how teams work together.

• Immersive experience: Stakeholders can experience a building's space before work begins by walking through a full-scale digital twin. This moves beyond traditional 2D drawings and static models, ensuring that everyone is on the same page quickly.
• Proven potential: A 2025 study by Forrester Consulting, commissioned by Meta, highlights the potential of VR in construction. The research found that 81% of manufacturers plan to use VR for visualising complex machinery and 76% for designing factory spaces, workflows that are directly applicable to construction sites.³

How Mondelēz are enhancing collaboration with VR

A blueprint for this comes from the global snack leader Mondelēz. Faced with slow prototyping and disconnected global R&D teams, the company created Simoja – a virtual innovation hub built on the Arthur platform.

The impact was immediate. Inside this shared digital space, over 1,000 colleagues collaborated on 3D models, cutting the concept design phase from weeks to hours. But the benefits went beyond speed. As Jay Gouliard, Senior Vice President, Mondelēz, notes, the platform fosters a more connected global team: "VR has also helped increase the inclusiveness of our workforce. We can bring developers from all over the world together to immersively collaborate and co-create."

The takeaway for construction is direct. A virtual project room lets architects, engineers and clients meet inside a building's digital twin. This helps teams reduce design timelines, catch costly errors early and ensure that everyone is fully aligned before construction begins.

What are the key VR applications for construction design?

• ShapesXR: Allows teams to quickly prototype and test designs in a collaborative virtual space.
• Arkio: Provides a shared virtual space for teams to create and visualise buildings together in VR.
• Autodesk Workshop XR: An immersive workspace for teams to review 3D models and data from Autodesk Construction Cloud, helping them catch costly errors early.

How is VR improving safety in construction?

On any construction site, safety comes first. Immersive technology is transforming how companies approach safety training, allowing workers to practise complex, high-risk procedures in a controlled virtual environment.

• Risk-free training: VR allows employees to rehearse high-stakes situations, such as a crane lift or a confined space emergency, without being exposed to real-world danger.
• Scalable skill building: Companies can use VR to train a large workforce to spot hidden hazards and build crucial skills at scale. This helps new workers become proficient before they ever set foot on an actual job site.
• Building muscle memory: By replicating hazardous scenarios in a virtual space, VR helps employees develop muscle memory and situational awareness, which can significantly reduce the risk of workplace injuries. This is why 81% of companies identified safety training and simulation as a key future use for VR, according to Forrester Consulting research.⁴

Successfully deploying this training across an organisation is the critical next step. This is where platforms such as Meta Horizon managed solutions come in, helping businesses manage their device fleets and deploy learning applications securely across an entire organisation.

What are the key VR applications for improving safety?

• Altoura: Designed to reduce injuries through step-by-step equipment simulations. Provides a safe, visual way to learn standard operating procedures.
• Vision-portal: Delivers high-grade simulations and digital twins with modules for both trainers and trainees.
• Facilitate: A content authoring programme that makes it possible for companies to create their own bespoke immersive training and 3D simulations without needing to write any code.

How is VR innovating project management in construction?

VR is reshaping construction project management by helping teams catch issues early, which saves both time and money.

• Reduces rework: According to a study by Forrester Consulting, the top anticipated benefit of implementing VR is higher-quality work and less need for rework. This is a critical advantage, as a 2025 peer-reviewed study found that rework⁵ is responsible for 52% of total project cost increases and up to 22% of schedule overruns.⁶
• Early error detection: VR enables immersive project reviews, allowing teams to walk through a digital replica of a building to spot clashes (conflicts between building systems or components) before they turn into expensive problems during construction.

How Mortenson are improving collaboration with VR

Mortenson, one of the top 20 builders in the United States, shows what's possible with this approach. The company found that viewing BIMs on a 2D screen made it difficult for stakeholders without technical expertise to understand complex plans. As a result, potential safety or accessibility issues are sometimes missed.

To solve this, Mortenson brought its BIM models into VR, making complex projects accessible to everyone. The team used the Resolve platform on Meta Quest headsets, all managed through Meta Horizon managed solutions.

The results on one data centre project were significant. Fifty reviewers from ten different companies took part in a virtual walk-through and identified over 600 issues – before any concrete was poured. By simulating a maintenance procedure in VR, the team discovered that light fixtures blocked access to electrical boxes – a single catch that saved an estimated USD 26,500 in rework.

This new way of working is becoming standard practice. Brian Nahas, Director of Virtual Design and Construction, Mortenson, says that the scalability of VR "drove a unique way of collaboration", one that he believes "will continue to influence our ways of working into the future".

What are the key VR apps for construction project management?

• Resolve: Lets project teams walk through huge Building Information Modelling (BIM) files from programmes such as Navisworks and Revit to find and fix clashes before construction begins.
• SENTIO VR: A cloud-based solution that streamlines the design review process. It makes it simple to host client presentations inside the model, improving communication and understanding.
• JoinXR: Allows dispersed teams to connect and collaborate effectively within highly detailed 3D datasets, no matter where they are located.

How is VR training helping to improve the construction skills gap?

The construction industry is grappling with a significant skills gap, driven by an ageing workforce and a decline in new entrants to skilled trades. According to Deloitte, 44% of current infrastructure skills will need to evolve within five years, creating a dual gap in both traditional and new skills.⁷ In fact, over 80% of construction executives say that it's now difficult to fill skilled roles, especially those needing technical, on-site expertise.⁸

Demand for specialised skills has also surged with the growth of hyperscale data centres, which require expertise in fields such as welding, electrical infrastructure, HVAC and large-scale concrete pouring. These facilities have significantly increased demand for jobs, but also the need for new, effective training methods.

How is VR providing a solution?

• Accelerated learning: According to Forrester Consulting, 9 out of 10 manufacturers can orient employees to VR learning in less than an hour.⁹ This accelerated model helps close the experience gap and gets teams up to speed fast.
• Safety and risk mitigation: VR lets trainees practise dangerous or complex tasks in a risk-free virtual space. They can learn from mistakes without the real-world consequences of injury, costly material waste or equipment damage.
• Realistic and repeatable practice: By providing a realistic virtual environment, companies can ensure that new hires are proficient in procedures and tasks before they ever step foot on a job site.

What are the key VR apps for construction training?

• ForgeFX Simulations: Creates immersive training simulators for skilled trades – including welding, HVAC and concrete pouring. Its simulations allow new workers to practise complex procedures in a safe environment, improving proficiency and safety before they step onto a real job site.

The rundown: Five benefits of VR in construction

1. Faster, more collaborative design: VR lets teams work together in shared virtual spaces, cutting design timelines from weeks down to hours.
2. A new standard for safety: Immersive training allows workers to practise high-risk tasks in a safe virtual environment, improving skills and helping reduce on-site accidents.
3. Catch errors before they happen: Virtual walk-throughs let teams find costly clashes and mistakes before construction starts, saving money and preventing rework.
4. Get everyone on the same page: By allowing clients and project teams to experience a space before it's built, VR ensures that everyone shares the same vision, reducing misunderstandings.
5. Manage with confidence: Enterprise-grade platforms such as Meta Horizon managed solutions are essential for securely managing VR headsets and applications across large, distributed construction teams.

Get in touch with Meta for Work

Discover how Meta Horizon managed solutions can scale your organisation with virtual and mixed reality. Learn how you can use VR and MR to build the future of work and education with our success stories.

Keep reading about working in virtual reality (VR):

What is the best VR headset for work?
How VR is revolutionising team building
Six innovations shaping the future of work

Sources

1. "2025 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook", Deloitte, November 2024
2. "2025 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook", Deloitte, November 2024
3. A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025. Base: 108 decision-makers involved in learning and development technology decisions in manufacturing organisations in North America and Europe.
4. A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025
5. A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025
6. Gumusburun Ayalp, G.; Arslan, F. Modelling critical rework factors in the construction industry: insights and solutions. Buildings 2025, 15, 606. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040606
7. "Building the engineering and construction workforce", Deloitte, 2024
8. "Building the engineering and construction workforce", Deloitte, 2024
9. A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Meta, April 2025