Everything You Want to Know about VR in Construction: Interview with Alex Markin, XR Creative Director at JetStyle
At JetStyle, we’re developing BIM VR, our VR tool for collaboration in the construction industry. We regularly showcase BIM VR at industry events, where we have the opportunity to engage with our audience — general contractors, architects, designers, and other stakeholders — and explain the benefits it brings to the process, such as:
- Improving the review process of BIM models,
- Spotting issues early,
- Reducing costs on iterations,
- Facilitating idea exchange and ensuring nothing gets lost.
By the way, a VR experience at an industry event is always a game changer: it attracts a lot of attention and generates great PR. If you're already thinking ahead to next season, we can help you create something eye-catching for your trade shows too.
We’ve collected the most frequently asked questions from visitors at industry events and directed them to Alex Markin, JetStyle’s co-founder and Creative Director of the XR department. If you have a question we haven’t covered below, feel free to reach out in the comments or via email at orders@jet.style.
Q: Could you tell us more about your product and how it works?
Alex Markin:
Our solution helps teams work with BIM models in virtual and mixed reality. You can either immerse yourself fully in a virtual environment and walk around the model as if it's already built, or you can see the model overlaid on the real world through augmented reality.
It’s about making the model more tangible — you can experience it in real size, in the real space, rather than just looking at it on a 2D screen. This gives you a much better understanding of how the project will work in the real world.
Q: How does your product optimize the construction process?
Alex Markin:
It makes it easier to spot issues early. When you’re standing inside a 3D model, you can see potential problems with layout, ergonomics, or structural clashes before they become expensive mistakes.
For teams, it speeds up the design process and reduces miscommunication. For clients, it’s a much clearer way to present the project — they can walk through it rather than trying to understand a bunch of technical drawings.
Q: Do you think this technology will become more widespread in the construction industry?
Alex Markin:
It’s already happening. This isn’t a future technology — it’s in use right now. We’re seeing our clients use it, and similar products are being adopted worldwide. The construction industry is changing, and more teams are realizing that working in virtual or mixed reality just makes sense.
Q: How do clients interact with the solution?
Alex Markin:
Our clients upload their BIM models to a secure cloud, where they can easily manage and access them. It’s simple to use, even for people with no technical background. They can open the model in any web browser, no special software required.
For a more immersive experience, they can connect a standalone VR headset and step right into the model. It’s easy to use, even on a basic laptop or tablet, and doesn’t require high-end hardware.
Q: How accessible is the VR experience for users?
Alex Markin:
The VR experience is very accessible. We use affordable standalone headsets that cost around €500. All you need is a Wi-Fi connection, and you’re good to go.
Even on a construction site, people can connect through their mobile hotspot and access the model. The model itself is stored in the cloud, so it’s easy to access from anywhere, whether it’s on-site or from the office.
BIM VR is available for free on Meta Store: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/bim-vr/23884099377944491/
And PICO Store: https://store-global.picoxr.com/global/detail/1/7511630166070804486
Or you may just book a demo (demos are also free) with our Project Manager Alexander via orders@jet.style
