It all started when Orlando architect Mike Keesee saw a video on TikTok in 2024 showcasing a new business that gives architects, builders, and designers the ability to walk through a construction plan and see it in true-to-life scale.
He had to see it in person. So when he and his business partner, Carl Brown, traveled to Arlington, Texas, for a conference, they scheduled a stop at the local franchise for 1to1 Plans and spent the day there giving it a test run.
“And basically, when we walked out of his office, we said we’re going to do this because we just don’t have anything like it,” Keesee said. “This is the next step, and we always try to be one step ahead, especially for client services.”
Keesee and Brown, who co-founded Total Solutions Group, spent the next year securing the franchise rights for Florida, scouring the market for a warehouse that could house their 1,200-square-foot LED floor-monitor and getting the new business off the ground. Soon, they’ll be hosting open houses with interior design groups and craft homebuilders.
Located in a warehouse at 4160 St. Johns Parkway in Sanford, the studio utilizes 208 LED floor monitors and an 18-foot-tall IMAX screen that can display any type of image, from construction blueprints to architectural elevations to photos, all projected at scale. No VR goggles required.
Because the operator can scroll the plan, the studio can accommodate any size project – from a 500-square-foot accessory dwelling unit to an office building or apartment complex. They provide movable furniture and walls that can be rolled into place, giving builders and their clients the chance to spot mistakes or make changes before they even apply for a permit.
“We have the toilet, so people can actually sit on that,” Program Director Joe Mareci said. “That’s the most used piece of furniture that we have. Everybody wants to sit on the toilet.”
It’s no joke, especially if the client is a disabled veteran and needs to know if they can navigate the entire floor plan in a wheelchair, as was the case for the 1,200-square-foot home being built for the non-profit Building Homes for Heroes. 1to1 Plans donated the studio and time to the Greater Orlando Builders Association for the project.
The whole process can cost as little as $1,125 — but it can save thousands more by avoiding costly change orders. 1to1 Plans records a video of each studio session and then sends a link to the client.
The insight is invaluable. Keesee said one client, a production homebuilder, was hiring a shell contractor to frame homes in a warehouse so they could walk the plan before committing to the final design.
“Think about what that costs — that sure isn’t $1,250 — and it sure isn’t air-conditioned,” he said.
Several production homebuilders, including D.R. Horton, Mattamy Homes, M/I Homes, Meritage and DRB Homes, are now regular customers. The firm offers bulk discounts, so they can review up to five plans in a 3-hour session or prepay for 10 plans.
“We had 14 people in here from one production company,” Keesee said. “They brought their sales staff, their construction managers. I couldn’t believe how many people — everybody could make that decision. And instead of being in a conference room looking at a little bitty piece of paper or a tablet, they could see the elevations and really see it true to form. They argued over where the lights are on the front of the house, and it was amazing the corrections they made.”
Interior designers have also utilized the service for its 18-foot-tall vertical screen, which provides a true-to-life image that lets them visualize things like window height, furniture placement, and door swing. They can even send a photo of a room from their Pinterest board and have it projected onto the screen at true scale.
“Any client can come in here with their own iPad and be able to project up our screen just by mirroring that,” Keesee said. “So anything on the screen that the client wants to see, we can put up there.”
Keesee and Brown want to expand the client base to include more commercial users and other specialty design firms, such as landscape and pool design. The system can display colored landscape plans at scale.
“It’s an easy sell once they come in here and see it. That’s the thing,” Keesee said.
Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at lkinsler@GrowthSpotter.com or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
