Imagine saving thousands—or even millions—on your dream home simply by walking through it before a single nail is hammered. This revolutionary approach is already unfolding in a Lehi warehouse, where cutting-edge projector technology is transforming how Utahns design and build their homes. But here’s where it gets controversial: could this innovation disrupt traditional homebuilding so profoundly that it reshapes the entire housing market in Utah?
Trevor Pyne, a Utah home builder and franchisee of the Cleveland-based company Walk Your Plans, believes it will. He explains that a semi-custom home in Utah typically costs around $1.2 million, and before this technology existed, buyers were essentially crossing their fingers and hoping the finished product matched their vision. Now, with life-sized blueprints projected onto the floors and walls of a spacious warehouse, clients can physically walk through their future homes at full scale—catching design flaws and making adjustments long before construction begins.
This isn’t just a neat trick; it’s a game-changer. Pyne, who also owns Kaizen Custom Homes, has witnessed firsthand how this technology saves clients thousands of dollars by allowing them to spot and correct issues early. For example, resizing windows on a home featured in next year’s Parade of Homes saved $35,000. On a much larger scale, a multi-family developer trimmed 28 square feet from each unit, resulting in millions of dollars in savings. And this is the part most people miss: even minor tweaks can have a massive financial impact.
The process is enhanced through a partnership with Vibe, a Washington state-based company with a local Utah presence. Vibe’s platform lets clients annotate the projected plans in real time—drawing arrows to push back walls, crossing out unnecessary features, or even importing inspirational images from the internet. These notes can then be exported and sent directly to architects, speeding up revisions and reducing costly delays.
Why does this matter so much? Because changes made after construction starts—known as change orders—can quickly inflate costs. Pyne recalls a project before he adopted this technology where four major post-framing changes added about $30,000 to the bill. "If we had this tech back then, we would have caught those issues early," he says. "It saves time, money, and gives homeowners a much better experience."
The technology uses six projectors overlapping on a 2,200-square-foot floor, plus two more projecting onto 18-foot-tall walls that are 36 feet wide. This setup allows clients to literally walk through their blueprints, gaining a true sense of scale that flat paper plans simply can’t provide. Nathan Christiansen, who operates the projectors and Vibe Board, notes, "Sometimes, just seeing things blown up makes it easier to understand."
During a visit to the Lehi showroom, I experienced this firsthand. I could test whether I’d comfortably fit in a shower or sit on a toilet and close the door simultaneously. The projections also showed realistic views through windows and the scale of stairs leading to the second floor. While traditional plans are two-dimensional, Walk Your Plans can project heights—like kitchen islands or drawer handles—onto massive walls, ensuring every detail feels right.
This technology addresses a common problem: the disconnect between what homeowners envision and what builders deliver. Pyne explains that walking through the plans in a warehouse setting helps catch misunderstandings before the home’s frame is up, saving money on design changes and preventing delays that could force buyers to extend their current rent or mortgage payments.
Gabe Nogueras, Vibe’s vice president of revenue and strategy, highlights that their collaboration with Walk Your Plans creates a user-friendly, smart process to tackle potential issues early. According to Vibe’s research, catching problems before construction can save at least $10,000 on a $500,000 build by halving the number of change orders.
And this technology isn’t just for custom homes. Pyne shared a story about a landscaper who spent 20 hours spray-painting a client’s backyard layout—a task that could have been done in an hour at Walk Your Plans. The system also has potential applications for larger projects like neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and commercial properties.
Interestingly, even clients who believe their blueprints are flawless often end up making multiple changes after walking through the projections. "Not one person has come in and not made changes," Pyne says. "Some only agreed to try it because their builder suggested it, but they end up making eight to ten adjustments."
So, what does this mean for Utah’s housing market? Could this technology be the key to making homebuilding more affordable and efficient, or will it create new challenges and expectations that the industry isn’t ready for? Are traditional builders at risk of being left behind, or will they embrace this innovation to stay competitive? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you think this is the future of home construction, or just a passing trend? Share your opinions in the comments below!
Megan Banta is The Salt Lake Tribune’s data enterprise reporter, supported by philanthropic funding. The Tribune maintains full editorial control over its content.
