SketchUp Helps Bring the JAL Lounge at Anfield Stadium to Life
When an architecture or interior design project needs to be approved quickly, 2D drawings are often not enough. The team, the client and other stakeholders need to see the space, understand the atmosphere and feel how the project will work in real life.
SketchUp helped solve exactly this challenge during the development of the new Japan Airlines Lounge at Anfield, the home stadium of Liverpool FC.
The project brought together several challenges at once: a historic stadium, tight timelines, an international team and the need to coordinate decisions between people in different cities and time zones.
Design Collaboration Across Locations
The interior of the JAL Lounge was designed by Jenny Denton. The project needed approval not only locally, but also from key Japan Airlines stakeholders based in London, Los Angeles and San Diego.
In this situation, SketchUp became more than a modelling tool. It became a shared visual language for the team. Instead of relying only on flat plans and long explanations, stakeholders could see the future lounge in 3D and understand design decisions more quickly.
From Design Idea to Shared Experience
One of SketchUp’s strengths in this kind of project is the ability to turn an idea into a space that can be shown, discussed and refined.
For the JAL Lounge, this was especially important because the space needed to support different hospitality scenarios. The lounge includes dining facilities and theatre seating for up to 60 guests, while also being able to host up to 130 people in a matchday reception format.
3D visualisation helped the team review the layout, seating, atmosphere, materials and overall experience before moving deeper into the construction phase.
Faster Approvals and Lower Project Risk
When project timelines are tight, every delay in approval can affect the whole schedule. SketchUp helped make the review process clearer because stakeholders could understand the space visually and give feedback faster.
This kind of digital-first workflow can also reduce risk. Potential layout issues, design questions and coordination challenges are easier to spot during design review than during the construction window.
For architects and designers, this is one of the most practical uses of SketchUp: not just creating a beautiful model, but making the project easier for everyone to understand.
SketchUp for Client Communication
Interior and architecture projects often need approval from people who do not work with drawings every day. For them, 2D plans, specifications and technical documents may not be enough to understand the final experience.
SketchUp helps bridge this gap. A 3D model can show scale, movement, seating, materials and the overall mood of the space. This makes communication easier and helps clients make decisions with more confidence.
In the case of the JAL Lounge, SketchUp helped connect design, presentation and approval into one clearer workflow.
The JAL Lounge at Anfield is a useful example of why SketchUp remains such a valuable tool for architects, interior designers and project teams.
It helps teams visualise ideas faster, coordinate decisions, work with remote stakeholders and reduce uncertainty before construction begins. For projects with tight deadlines, that speed and clarity can make a real difference.
For teams that want to improve design communication and make approvals easier, SketchUp offers a practical way to turn an idea into a space that everyone can see and understand.
Image and source credit: Trimble SketchUp / Liverpool FC / Japan Airlines