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XR (extended reality) is showing up in AV projects in two primary ways: as a design validation tool that lets stakeholders walk through a space virtually before construction begins, and as a collaboration environment for distributed teams working on complex technical projects. The design review use case is more mature and has the clearest ROI story. The collaboration use case is in earlier adoption but gaining real traction among organizations with distributed technical teams.
Blog 8 of 8 in the series: What AV Topics Should I Be Paying Attention to in 2026?
- XR is being used in two primary ways in AV: as a design validation tool before construction, and as a collaboration environment for distributed technical teams.
- Non-technical stakeholders can experience a space at full human scale, catch issues instantly, and approve layouts before construction begins, without needing to interpret a single drawing.
- Modern XR design review platforms are accessible across devices without dedicated VR hardware, so any stakeholder can participate from anywhere.
- An XR design review costs $2,000 to $8,000 and typically catches 3 to 6 issues that would otherwise become change orders averaging $1,500 to $15,000 each.
- ModusVR and platforms like Microsoft Mesh and Spatial.io are in active use for distributed AV design review and team collaboration.
What Problem Does XR Actually Solve in AV Project Planning?
The core problem is the gap between what 2D drawings communicate and what most stakeholders actually understand from them. AV signal flow drawings, equipment schedules, and floor plans are accurate and necessary documents, but they require real technical literacy to interpret. Most end users, facility managers, department heads, and executives cannot look at a plan view drawing and understand where the camera will be pointed, what the display will look like from the back of the room, or whether speaker placement will provide even coverage.
Why Experiencing a Space Changes Everything
People who struggle to read a floor plan have no trouble understanding a room they are standing in. XR closes that gap completely. When a stakeholder steps into a virtual version of their future conference room, they immediately understand the scale, the sightlines, the feel of the space. They can see that the display is too high before anyone has touched drywall. They can feel that the room is smaller than they expected, or larger. That instinctive understanding is something no drawing can deliver.
This matters especially when you are selling an experience. An AV investment is not just hardware and cable, it is how a room will feel and function every day. Giving stakeholders a chance to preview that experience before committing to it builds confidence, reduces surprises, and makes approvals faster.
The Two Problems That Gap Creates
That gap creates two types of costly problems. Stakeholders approve designs they did not truly understand and then request changes during or after construction, when modifications are most expensive. And issues that would be immediately obvious during a physical walkthrough get missed entirely, including things like a sightline blocked by a column, a display positioned too high for comfortable viewing, or speakers aimed directly at a glass wall.
XR addresses both by giving non-technical stakeholders a way to actually experience the designed space before a single cable is pulled.
What Does an XR Design Review Actually Look Like on a Real Project?
The design review workflow has evolved significantly. Platforms like ModusVR have moved well beyond the early model of requiring dedicated VR goggles for every participant. Today the experience is accessible across devices without specialized hardware, meaning a stakeholder in a different city can join a review session from a laptop or tablet, navigate the space, and flag issues in real time alongside the design team.
The AV designer imports the room model and places equipment at specified mounting locations and heights. Displays, cameras, speakers, microphones, and control panels appear at true scale. Every participant sees the same space and can move through it independently, manipulate elements, and annotate directly in the model.
What Happens During the Review
Issues get identified in real time: a display is too high, a camera angle is wrong, a speaker is too close to a reflective surface. Changes are made in the design model during the session or immediately after, and a follow-up review confirms the revised design before construction begins. A review session typically runs 60 to 90 minutes.
The Multi-Location Advantage
Because modern XR review platforms are device-agnostic and require no specialized hardware, participation is genuinely frictionless. A facilities director in Boston, an IT lead in Austin, and a department head in London can all be in the same virtual room at the same time, pointing at the same display, asking the same questions. Getting full stakeholder alignment without a single travel day is not a minor convenience. On complex projects it is a meaningful schedule and cost advantage.
What Issues Does XR Catch That 2D Drawings Miss?
The most commonly caught issues in XR design reviews:
Display and Camera Problems
- Display height and angle: A display specified at 84 inches center height looks fine on a floor plan but requires uncomfortable neck extension when you are actually standing in front of it.
- Camera sightlines: Obstructions from columns, furniture, or other equipment that are invisible in plan view become immediately obvious at human scale.
Audio and Control Issues
- Speaker coverage: Placement creating hot spots or dead zones that acoustic modeling may not fully predict shows up when you walk through the space.
- Control panel placement: Logically positioned on a floor plan, sometimes ergonomically awkward in three dimensions.
- Display size recalibration: Stakeholders frequently revise display size specs after experiencing the space, both up and down.
How Is XR Being Used for Ongoing Collaboration Beyond Design Review?
Persistent virtual collaboration spaces are gaining ground among organizations with distributed technical teams. ModusVR supports ongoing collaborative access to project models across the full design and build lifecycle. Alongside it, platforms like Microsoft Mesh (integrated with Teams), Spatial.io, and Meta Horizon Workrooms provide virtual meeting environments where participants interact with shared 3D content, whiteboards, and screens.
Practical Applications for AV and Facilities Teams
- Remote commissioning review: Technicians at different sites review system configurations together in a shared virtual environment.
- Training environments: New staff learn equipment operation and troubleshooting in a virtual replica of a client facility before touching the real thing.
- Client design presentations: Happen in a shared virtual environment rather than screen-sharing 2D drawings.
What Is the ROI of Adding XR Design Review to a Project?
The math is not complicated. A change order to relocate a display mounting point after drywall is complete typically runs $1,500 to $5,000. A change order requiring electrical relocation or conduit rerouting typically runs $3,000 to $15,000. An XR design review service costs $2,000 to $8,000 and typically catches 3 to 6 issues per project.
When XR Is Worth It
For large, complex projects such as executive briefing centers, command centers, and large conference facilities, the ROI is not in question. For smaller single-room projects, the value depends on design complexity and how many stakeholders need to review and approve before construction begins. When stakeholder alignment has historically been a source of delays or change orders, XR pays for itself on the first project.
For the full 2026 AV trends overview, read What AV Topics Should I Be Paying Attention to in 2026?.
For context on how early design decisions affect long-term system performance, visit Design & Consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is XR, and how is it different from VR and AR?
XR (extended reality) is the umbrella term for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). VR replaces the real environment entirely with a virtual one. AR overlays digital content on the real environment. MR anchors digital objects to the physical world and allows interaction with both. In AV planning, VR and MR are the most commonly used.
What XR tools are being used for AV design review?
ModusVR is the platform DGI recommends for AV design review. It is accessible across devices without dedicated VR hardware, supports real-time collaboration from any location, and allows stakeholders to navigate and manipulate the space directly. Other platforms in use include Autodesk Forma and Chaos Envision for BIM-based review workflows.
How much does XR design review add to a project cost?
XR design review services typically add $2,000 to $8,000 to a project depending on space complexity and the number of review sessions. For large projects where a single change order can run $10,000 to $50,000, the ROI calculation is straightforward.
Can XR replace traditional 2D AV drawings?
Not yet for construction documentation. 2D drawings remain the legal record set for construction and permitting. XR supplements them by giving non-technical stakeholders a way to actually understand what the finished space will look and feel like. The combination of 2D construction documents plus XR design review is becoming the standard for complex AV projects.
How is XR used for ongoing collaboration beyond design review?
ModusVR supports ongoing collaborative access to project models across the full design and build lifecycle. Alongside it, platforms like Microsoft Mesh, Spatial.io, and Meta Horizon Workrooms provide persistent virtual meeting environments where distributed teams interact with shared 3D content, whiteboards, and screens
Does XR design review require specialized hardware?
Not anymore. Modern platforms like ModusVR are accessible across devices without dedicated VR hardware. Participants can join a review session from a laptop, tablet, or desktop from anywhere in the world, which removes the friction that made early VR design review tools impractical for broader stakeholder involvement.
