Signal House, Wimbledon SW19

From planning to pre-letting: one digital twin supporting the entire development lifecycle

Signal House is a 278-bed purpose-built student accommodation development in Wimbledon delivered by Hollybrook and operated by Mezzino.

ADS was appointed to create a digital twin of the scheme that could be used throughout the project lifecycle, from design development and stakeholder engagement through to marketing and student recruitment.

Rather than producing visualisations solely for planning or sales, the objective was to create a single immersive environment that would support decision-making, accelerate approvals and enable the scheme to be marketed globally well before construction was complete.

The result was a coordinated suite of CGI imagery and immersive virtual experiences that helped transform Signal House from a set of drawings into a leasable, market-ready asset months before opening.

Objectives

01 Reduce risk by identifying design and coordination issues before construction.
02 Accelerate design approvals by enabling stakeholders to experience the scheme pre-build.
03 Enable early marketing and pre-letting with a single, multi-use digital asset.

We developed a VR tour from the earliest design stage, showcasing all room types and the shared kitchen. This was used throughout the design process to resolve layout and finish queries and to secure stakeholder approval on materials and colour schemes.

Once approved, the VR tour was refined into a final marketing asset and integrated into Mezzino’s online platform.

Commercial Outcomes

Stakeholders were able to review and approve layouts, materials and finishes before procurement and construction, enabling more confident decision-making early in the process.

Design queries were resolved within an immersive environment rather than relying solely on 2D drawings, improving clarity and reducing ambiguity.

Hollybrook utilised the digital assets throughout the development lifecycle, minimising the need for repeated visualisation packages and increasing efficiency.

Mezzino benefited from a marketing platform that allowed prospective students to explore the accommodation remotely before completion, supporting early engagement and pre-letting.

Overall, the same digital content was used across development, marketing and operational teams, maximising return on investment.