The following steps outline the process our group followed for this project. The steps include researching, documenting, and digitally reconstructing Willis Hall.
Step 1: Research and Planning
- Gathered historical information and photos of Willis Hall from Carleton sites and archives.
- Organized all materials (images, documents, PDFs) into a shared Google Drive folder.
- Discussed project goals and decided which tools to use: PolyCam for indoor 360° panoramas, Scaniverse for the exterior, ThingLink for interactive models, Flourish for the timeline, and WordPress for the website.
- Created a project plan outlining each team member’s responsibilities and the workflow for assembling the final product.
Step 2: Adjusting Project Focus
- Learned from Professor Mason that the main renovations would focus on Willis Hall’s interior.
- Decided to shift the project focus slightly from mainly exterior modeling to include detailed interior interactive experiences.
- Took inspiration from previous projects: the Weitz model (interactive floorplans) and a historical Faribault house tour (virtual indoor experience).
- Planned to create an immersive tour that combines interior panoramas, floor plans, and historical information.
Step 3: Capturing Materials
- Used PolyCam to take 360° panoramas of Willis Hall’s interior rooms.
- Used Scaniverse to create a detailed 3D “Splat” model of the exterior.
- Collected PDFs of the floor plans for each level of Willis Hall.
- Compiled historical dates and events to prepare entries for the Flourish timeline.
Step 4: Building Interactive Models
- Uploaded interior panoramas to ThingLink and added interactive “hotspots” for historical info and room descriptions.
- Linked floor plans to ThingLink so viewers could click on specific rooms to view the corresponding panoramas.
- Prepared the exterior Scaniverse model for embedding into the website.
Step 5: Creating the Timeline
- Entered historical information into Flourish, structuring entries by date and adding images.
- Ensured the timeline was interactive and visually aligned with the website design.
Step 6: Assembling the Website
- Set up WordPress with a chosen theme and basic structure.
- Embedded the Flourish timeline.
- Added descriptive write-ups to explain each feature of the site.
- After a solid draft of website was formed, created a Pecha Kucha-style slide show for our in-class presentation.
Step 7: Troubleshooting
- Worked with Professor Mason to obtain the proper licensing to embed the ThingLink virtual tour.
- Uploaded the Scaniverse splat scan into Polycam to clean and refine the model before embedding it into the website.
Step 8: Finalizing and Reviewing
- Tested all interactive components to ensure they worked properly.
- Made final edits to the website layout and annotations.
- Prepared the project for submission, ensuring all materials were accessible and organized.