Augmented reality and VDC tools streamline construction coordination while a Los Angeles studio uses AR/VR for immersive news production.
Los Angeles, California, August 21, 2025
A major general contractor has expanded an enterprise virtual design and construction (VDC) program—using BIM, cloud collaboration and handheld AR—to reduce rework and improve safety across projects. Simultaneously, a Los Angeles broadcast station opened a 3,400 sq ft fully AR/VR-enabled studio for immersive weather, sports and storytelling. Both moves show augmented reality and model-based workflows are moving from pilots into everyday use, improving field coordination, quality control and audience engagement while driving new hiring and training needs for VDC and virtual production roles.
What happened: A large general contractor has scaled digital design and construction methods across projects to reduce rework and risk, while a Los Angeles broadcast station recently opened the first fully AR/VR-enabled news studio in Southern California. Both developments show how virtual tools and augmented reality are moving from pilots into daily field and production use.
The contractor is expanding an enterprise-wide virtual design and construction (VDC) program that uses BIM data, cloud platforms, and augmented reality to improve coordination between design and the field. The VDC team includes nearly 100 people and is applied to every project in some capacity. On the broadcast side, a newly built 3,400-square-foot studio in Los Angeles launched in mid-June with full AR/VR capability for weather, sports and other storytelling formats; the space measures 68 feet by 50 feet and is the largest technology-driven studio in its station group.
Construction projects require many trades, different software and hardware, and constant data sharing. Centralizing and visualizing that data in a constructible model reduces miscommunication and clashes before they become field problems. For broadcast, immersive sets let presenters and producers visualize complex information in three dimensions, potentially improving audience understanding of weather systems, topography and sports action.
The firm has built an end-to-end workflow that starts with field data collection and finishes with cloud storage and stakeholder access. Key elements include:
Examples of practical use on major jobs include mapping floor removal and checking installed elements with AR at a medical campus replacement program; loading design models onto field tablets and visualizing demolition and utility installation at a large airport redevelopment; and color-coding engineering models to push coordinated views to AR devices for collaborative safety verification.
The VDC group is led by a director and supported by senior VDC managers, lead engineers and BIM specialists. Hiring favors field-experienced office engineers or superintendents who transition into VDC roles. Training emphasizes hands-on field sessions rather than video-only learning, with on-site support for each project and regional field workshops to speed adoption. The company reports widespread adoption of licenses for cloud and AR tools and has integrated VDC language and steps into operational and safety procedures.
Adoption of VDC and AR tools has been associated with fewer rework events and improved risk profiles. Reduced rework lowers the chance of accidents tied to redo work. The contractor has received industry safety awards and a construction innovation award for connecting data across teams and improving transparency.
The new Los Angeles studio opened during a morning newscast in mid-June and is the seventh facility in its station group to adopt AR/VR systems. The studio’s full AR/VR capability allows meteorologists and producers to create realistic 3D weather elements, walk through virtual neighborhoods, and present layered visual explanations of local weather phenomena. The station group plans to expand similar immersive storytelling tools across additional markets and to use them for sports, traffic and special investigative efforts.
Both examples reflect two broader trends: construction is moving from isolated drawings to shared digital models tied to the field, while broadcast production is shifting from physical sets to virtual environments that can be updated and reused. Tools such as cloud collaboration platforms, handheld AR viewers, model-based coordination and mobile visualization are key enablers in both sectors.
A: VDC stands for virtual design and construction. It brings together 3D models, field data and collaboration tools so teams can spot clashes, plan sequences and reduce errors before work happens on site.
A: AR overlays model information on the real world, helping crews verify installed work, map removal or installation areas, and validate clearances and utility locations without relying solely on 2D drawings.
A: Common elements include cloud collaboration platforms for model sharing, project management software for cost and document controls, handheld AR systems for field visualization, drones and laser scanners for site capture, and tablets for on-the-spot model viewing.
A: Reported benefits include reduced rework, clearer coordination, faster decision making, improved safety scores and better quality control through continuous verification.
A: AR/VR studios replace or augment physical sets with virtual environments that can display 3D weather, sports replays and interactive graphics, allowing more flexible storytelling and efficient set use.
| Area | Feature | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| VDC program | BIM capture on every project; 95-person VDC team | Consistent data, improved coordination |
| Cloud platform | Central repository for models and field data | Single source of truth for decisions |
| Field tools | iPads, AR handheld viewers, laser scanning, drones | Real-time visualization and QC |
| Project software | Project management system for RFIs, logs, punchlists | Better documentation and cost control |
| Studio launch | 3,400 sq ft AR/VR-enabled studio opened in Los Angeles | Immersive storytelling for weather, sports and traffic |
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