Massing Studies at NC State University

Colorizing maps is big on our plate right now.  Easier said, than done, in a generic way.  But we're laying the foundation for it and looking to the future with 3D.  Michelle Wang produced a bang-up massing map for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill using SketchUp, colored by building type.  Cool stuff.

We want to do the same thing for NCSU.  The first step is getting the mass in a 3D format that we can interrogate and link to building information.  We don't want to be hand editing these maps each time something changes, so the linkage between the vector graphics and the database is crucial.

Back in 1990, Rob Yaeger used AutoCAD to produce a 3D rendering for campus.  A few years ago, NCSU Design students competed in Google's Map My Campus project and generated a 3D rendering using SketchUp for most of campus.  Here's what Rob says:

I did a similar massing of NCSU for a flyover showing a proposed monorail from Centennial to North Campus in 1990.  1990!!!   I am not sure if this file could be converted.  It was generated from Autocad. However, I'm not sure if you are aware of a "map my campus" competition that Google held a few years ago.  A group of design students from State used sketchup to model most of the buildings on campus, which have been loaded and are available via Google Earth.  Open Google Earth, select the 3D buildings option, and zoom in to nc state.  Use the tilt option and rotate your view.  See attached screen capture, containing an image of the mc3dall.dwg Autocad file, and a view from Google Earth. The finishes look more realistic in GE, but the UNC map is better in my view for wayfinding and identifying types of buildings by color.

Here's the result of that.  The top image is AutoCAD circa 1990 with a view looking west, Hillsborough St. at right.  The bottom image is SketchUp looking toward Harrelson Hall.