2021 Digital Evolution Lab
Submissions
The Locus – a CRTKL Virtual Environment
Washington D.C.
New York City
Miami
Project Description
The Locus is a virtual platform that allows its users to explore CRTKL’s project portfolio in a fully immersive 3-D environment. This digital space is only made possible by leveraging game engines’ Virtual Reality capabilities. The transformation of CRTKL’s underutilized BIM assets into an interactive tool within the metaverse will be an industry game changer. Let’s dive into what this platform will look like.
When a user enters the Locus they will encounter four key interfaces: The Gallery, The Exhibit, BRICs and The Curator. The Gallery is the room where a user first materializes. It acts as both a meeting space and a vehicle for exploring The Locus. Next, the Exhibit, a table-like surface in The Gallery’s center, holds a collection of cuboid objects called Building-Related Information Capsules – or BRICs. These BRICs are the building blocks of CRTKL’s digital archive, each housing data for a given project. Last, The Curator, an AI interface of The Locus, hovers above The Exhibit, waiting to extract information from a user’s BRIC of choice. Users can decide to independently interact with BRICs at their own pace or present a BRIC to the group. By giving their BRIC to The Curator, the Exhibit enters Sharing Mode, displaying only the chosen project. In Sharing Mode, the user who selected the project gains access to several new features. One such feature is a virtual project walkthrough. This function transforms the Gallery’s walls into a 360° panorama from within the BIM Model, effectively transporting viewers into the project itself. Locus users can navigate the space and indicate their favorite aspects of the project, giving the design team practical, experience-driven customer insights as they go. The Locus helps teams communicate and connect in new dimensions – clearing the way for truly collaborative, industry-defining designs that also satisfy clients’ real-world demands.
This platform promises to add significant value for CRTKL, the planet, and its clients. With The Locus, employees can access past projects in remarkable detail, allowing for rapid brainstorming and needs assessments. By shifting to a virtual platform and reducing the need for physical site visits, CRTKL lowers its carbon footprint, proving the firm’s commitment to designing for the future. Finally, as early adopters of the metaverse, CRTKL will outpace competitors by appealing to the most forward-thinking clients.