Case Study - American Structurepoint Accelerates Client Decisions with Arkio

Discover how American Structurepoint uses Arkio to reduce rework and improve confidence in design.

Using immersive VR to reduce rework and improve confidence in design

American Structurepoint is a full-service architecture and engineering firm with offices across the United States. While we already design in 3D using BIM tools, we found that traditional screen-based design reviews still left too much to the imagination—for both clients and internal teams. To solve this, we turned to Arkio, enabling more intuitive, immersive walkthroughs that improve clarity and reduce late-stage changes.

Even with first-person viewing tools like Enscape, something gets lost—our brains have to do a lot of mental lifting to interpret a space from flat renderings. Viewing the model in VR changes that entirely. It removes the cognitive barriers that come with traditional visualization tools.

Challenge: Great designs lost in translation

Our architecture team regularly shares 3D models with clients, but even well-made renderings and animations don't always prevent misunderstandings. Things that seem clear on screen sometimes feel “off” in real life—and late-stage tweaks or redesigns are more common than we like. Great designs sometimes get lost in translation.

By integrating Arkio into our workflow, we now bring BIM models directly into VR for live review sessions with clients and internal teams. The team runs tailored presentations using Quest headsets and Arkio’s collaborative tools to match the needs of each audience—whether it’s a formal meeting with city officials or a casual after-hours internal review.

Arkio offers an ongoing design integrity check. VR exposes the gaps. We often make small but critical adjustments—tweaking proportions, adjusting ceiling heights, rebalancing an elevation—that elevate a design from good to great.

Streamlined multi-user client walkthroughs

We used Arkio to present a new clubhouse design for a golf course in Parma, Ohio. With six headsets available, clients and officials were guided through the building while a facilitator projected the tour to the room. Using Arkio’s “gather” feature helped keep users oriented—even those unfamiliar with VR controls. Handouts with QR codes (generated from Enscape) provided an alternative for less tech-savvy stakeholders, allowing them to explore key spaces as photospheres.

No-training-needed client demos

For a large client presentation with over 20 attendees, the team preloaded four headsets with views of different spaces, clearly labeled each, and set them up in walkable zones. Instead of explaining controller use, they invited participants to simply hold the headset like binoculars and look around. We considered it a success if someone enjoyed the first space enough to move on to another headset. Almost everyone did.

Internal collaboration through "Structurepoint After Dark"

In a more informal setting, the architecture team occasionally hosts internal VR nights—nicknamed “Structurepoint After Dark”—where staff can explore current designs using headsets or phones, with Arkio running in collaborative mode. These sessions help teams spot coordination issues and bring fresh perspectives to ongoing projects.

Outcome: Faster decisions, less rework, and more confident clients

The biggest value we have seen with Arkio is faster, more confident decision-making—both from clients and within our own team. Arkio has been a great tool for catching coordination issues before they become RFIs, which is a direct cost-saving. When we present to clients in VR, they make decisions more quickly and confidently. That translates to fewer delays and less rework, which is a huge time saver for everyone involved. Feedback from our clients has been overwhelmingly positive.

Looking Ahead: On-site visualization and AR exploration

We are exploring the use of Arkio and the Meta Quest 3 for site-specific visualization. With color passthrough capabilities, we're experimenting with ways to let stakeholders see a future building in its actual location—even before construction begins. It’s a great way to bridge imagination and reality.

Aaron Nordstrom, Project Architect at Structurepoint

“VR is fun, yes—but more importantly, it works. Arkio helps us get to better results faster.”