Commercial real estate refers to all real estate dedicated to the service sector, such as offices, hospital buildings, administrative buildings and sports facilities.
Just like residential property, commercial property faces problems related to off-plan sales. The problem is simple: customers are not able to project themselves and sales can require countless visits.
This is where 3D comes in, with ever more powerful tools allowing clients to have a real overview of the final project. Visualisation of offices, common areas, services offered or accessibility are some of the issues that these 3D tools can address!
Projection: a recurring problem in professional real estate
When buying a property that is not yet built, it is often difficult to imagine what the finished and delivered project will look like. And what is valid for individuals is also valid for professionals. 3D is the answer to this recurring problem. Integrated in various forms in visualisation tools, it gives partners, buyers or future tenants the possibility to discover and contemplate realistic views of the final project.
These tools are designed to create a real experience for the visitor. The interior and exterior fittings offer a vision of the project as it will be when delivered.
3D, augmented reality, virtual reality: ever more powerful tools for specific uses
Today, there are several technologies and media derived from 3D that can be integrated into tools:
The 3D model - The 3D model is the main visual support that will be used to show the whole project. The model is fully interactive and can be manipulated and additional content integrated through clickable points of interest.
In addition to this, the 3D model can be very useful to show the different access and circulation points within the project.
Augmented reality - This technology brings the 3D model into the real world!
There are several options here:
Augmented reality on a floor plan allows you to show the reduced scale model in a meeting from any smartphone or tablet equipped with the application. The perfect solution for mobile presentations.
Augmented reality at scale 1 gives the possibility to display the finished building in 3D directly on site before construction. The client can thus have a very accurate overview of the real estate project in its real environment.
Virtual reality - The objective here is clear: immersion! When we talk about virtual reality, we often think of VR headsets and immersive simulations, but this also includes 360° images and films. The aim here is to show the finished project through realistic photo renderings. Decoration, furnishings, everything is designed to visualise the premises as if they were already built and fitted out. These 360° views can be adapted to be viewed in a VR headset.
This technology will be favoured to show the common parts of the project: restaurants, auditoriums, connected cafés and terraces can be highlighted using virtual reality. This can take the form of a film or visuals. The aim is to show the client the quality of life sold with the project.
This solution is also perfectly suited to presenting office space. A 360° view of the proposed layouts will allow the customer to have a foot in his future professional premises!
3D web tools - Already used by the residential property market, 3D web tools are beginning to be deployed for the tertiary market. This is nothing less than an interactive 3D model giving access to additional content such as 360° images and films[link] or sales plans. A search module integrated into the model can also be deployed to highlight a particular lot.
Increasingly powerful and adaptive 3D tools
With a market estimated at more than 26 billion euros per year, commercial real estate is already a major consumer of 3D. Visualisation, immersion and contextualisation, virtual imaging has become the preferred means of discovering a professional real estate project before construction. With ever more realistic renderings, it is available in a variety of tools to meet specific needs. From augmented reality to virtual reality and 3D tools on the web, the possibilities of adapting these new technologies to professional real estate are constantly evolving.
3D tools will therefore continue to accompany the marketing of commercial real estate!
Want to know more about 3D solutions for real estate? Download our guide to 3D for real estate!
