SMART CAMPUS — Sunny Lee

MY ROLE
Senior Creative Lead & Interaction Designer at Altoura

DURATION
6 Weeks

CLIENTS
Microsoft, CBRE, Altoura

TOOLS
3D Studio Max, VRay, Unity, ReCap, Pano2VR, Sketch, Omnigraffle, Pen & Paper, Post-Its, Whiteboard

DELIVERY
iOS, Android, & Windows Applications, Animation, 360 Panorama, Real-time AR

OVERVIEW

The project involved demolishing 12 existing buildings and constructing 18 new buildings, alongside new running and walking trails, open spaces, sports facilities, and a pedestrian bridge over Route 520 to connect Microsoft’s east and west campuses.

To announce this major redevelopment at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters, CBRE and Microsoft commissioned Altoura to provide a preview of the proposed design using augmented reality (AR). Leveraging AR’s immersive capabilities, the project aimed for completion by December 2019.

Click 'play' above to explore the 3D model of Microsoft's proposed campus. Early massing model created with Recap and 3dsmax.

CHALLENGE

Our team was tasked with developing a responsive mobile sales application (compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows) to enable CBRE to showcase marketing assets and communicate architectural goals effectively.

Initially, the scope included an animation and a gallery for renderings. However, upon submission to the iOS App Store, Apple rejected the application for lacking sufficient interactivity.

Click & drag to explore the panorama of the pedestrian bridge. Art direction & post-production led by Sunny Lee while at Altoura.

Click & drag to explore the panorama of the plaza & farmer's market. Art direction & post-production led by Sunny Lee while at Altoura.

Click & drag to explore the panorama of the plaza & event. Art direction & post-production led by Sunny Lee while at Altoura.

SOLUTIONS

Developed a responsive augmented reality (AR) sales brochure that maintained consistent branding and information architecture across iOS, Android, and Windows platforms.
Users could install the app and scan a printable target pattern to access the AR content here.

METRICS

The platform achieved over 35,000 downloads within the first two weeks.
It offered a comprehensive overview of renovation phases, smart campus features, and design considerations, while also serving as a visual tool to communicate pedestrian and car-free zones. This contributed to the successful approval of a new light rail stop at Microsoft’s Redmond, WA campus.

NEXT STEPS

CBRE tasked the team with creating an accompanying physical model to be temporarily displayed at the entrance of Microsoft’s Building 33. Using the AR application, users could point their personal mobile devices at the model to overlay digital content, showcasing renovation phases and campus features. The app was compatible with Android, iOS, and HoloLens, ensuring broad accessibility.

CASE STUDIES

SMARTCAMPUS