Alex Drey launches immersive blueprint visualization business

Customers take a look at their plans at 2320 Enterprise Ave #2 in Tea.

Alex J. Drey, owner of Walk Your Plans Sioux Falls, is setting out to fill the gap between design and development by opening an immersive, full-scale visualization studio at the end of February. 

Drey’s journey to bringing his business to the area is unique, with nearly 15 years at Sanford Health with roles ranging from marketing consumer insights, competitive intelligence, and product development. 

“My career has really centered on understanding customer needs and building solutions that make complex decisions easier,” he said.

While not coming from a traditional architectural or blueprint background, Drey was drawn to the position through his own experience with the process. 

“I’ve been in the position as a homeowner trying to interpret plans and realize how difficult it is to fully understand space, scale, and flow from a 2D drawing. That experience, combined with my background in problem solving and user experience, is what led me here,” Drey said.

Since February, Walk Your Plans Sioux Falls opened its doors to the first immersive, full-scale plan visualization studios of its kind on the market. 

“Walk Your Plans was the first projection studio in the US and started in Cleveland, Ohio over three years ago. It immediately clicked as a solution to a very real common problem, and I saw an opportunity to bring that experience to Sioux Falls,” he said.

The original concept was founded by Joe Matejka in Cleveland, Ohio, after he experienced the challenges of managing a construction project remotely and struggling to interpret blueprints. 

“The studio uses specialized projection technology that displays architectural plans at a true 1:1 scale across both the floor and wall. It requires a large, open space with high ceilings and fully integrated projection system that allows us to map out entire floor plans in real size so people can physically walk through them,” Drey said.

The process starts with the customer providing Drey with their floor plans, whether purchased online, worked on with an architect, or a builder. 

“We take the plans we get and convert it into a full-scale projection inside the studio. During the session, clients walk through their space room by room, often alongside their builder, architect, or designer. They can evaluate things like layout, flow, room sizes, furniture placement, and sightlines,” he said.

The collaborative and interactive experience often has clients walking away from the experience with a much higher level of clarity and confidence in their design decisions. 

“Instead of wondering if a room will feel too small or if a layout will function well, you can actually walk it and experience it. That leads to better decisions earlier in the process, more collaboration between stakeholders, and ultimately fewer surprises during construction,” Drey said. 

Traditionally, people rely on the blueprints, renderings, or even imagination to understand a space. With Walk Your Plans Sioux Falls, clients are able to make decisions and add or remove features. 

“Being able to make changes and add furniture in real time during the session helps allow for quick iterations and conversations. However, we don’t change their plans, any design changes typically go back to the architect or designer to be formally updated, and then we can bring the revised plans back into the studio,” Drey said.

Depending on the size and complexity of the project, sessions last around one to two hours with larger, more detailed plans taking a bit longer, especially if there are multiple stakeholders involved. 

“This is designed for anyone involved in the pre-construction phase which includes new home builds, remodels, additions, and even commercial projects. We work with homeowners, customers builders, architects, interior designers, and developers who want to better understand their spaces before building,” he said. 

Building and remodeling is one of the biggest investments people make and understand in real life. 

“As projects become more complex and costs continue to rise, there’s a growing need for tools that help people make more informed decisions earlier. This not only improves the experience but can also help reduce costly changes during construction and bringing this to Sioux Falls means giving people access to a level of clarity and confidence that previously wasn’t available in this market,” Drey said. 

Looking ahead, Drey sees Walk Your Plans as fulfilling a growing need in the community. 

“My favorite part of my job is seeing the moment when it clicks for someone. When they walk into their plan and suddenly understanding their space in a completely different way. Watching homeowners, builders, and designers work together in real time, making decisions and solving problems together is incredibly rewarding. You can see the confidence build throughout the session and that’s what makes it all worth it,” he said.