Concord Pacific Developments
Calgary, AB
3D Photorealistic Renderings, Drone & Aerial, Virtual Reality, Interactive
Virtual reality is quickly becoming a defining medium in real estate. The ability to not only showcase properties before they have been constructed but also from anywhere in the world is making VR a must-use tool. LNG Studios developed a mobile-based virtual reality experience with the City of Calgary and Concord Pacific to showcase the new West Eau Claire Park. The new park is a landmark feature that defines the prime Eau Claire neighborhood in Calgary's rapidly transforming downtown.
The virtual reality experience provides a unique and immersive 360° viewpoint from ground and aerial perspectives. This unique Virtual Reality experience takes the viewer through the journey of the project. Whether it be within one of the beautiful rooms or a bird’s-eye view of the park and residence. Showcasing the Concord real estate development through this innovative medium provides an excellent opportunity to gather public consultation and drum up excitement. The Calgary VR experience is the third project between LNG Studios and Concord Pacific, all of which are accessible on any mobile device.
With the 2013 flood still fresh in the mind of the public, this created a unique question for Concord. How to develop a waterfront property that gives ease of mind to the public while remaining aesthetically beautiful. The minds at O2 Design, a Calgary-based landscape architect, provided the solution. O2 Design included multi-level flood prevention measures within their designs. These countermeasures included secant piles and auxiliary drainage systems, all of which were seamlessly integrated into the landscape features providing safety without the price of elegance.
To make the project a reality we traveled to Calgary in February and shot background plate images. While the drone shoot had great results, filming in February meant high volumes of ice and snow. To deal with this issue, our team had to hand paint over the winter scenes to transform them into summer. From there, our 3D artists were able to add the revised landscaping, buildings, match the lighting and then composite it all together.
Overall the project found great success. The launch event was well received by the public, with over 400 mobile-compatible VR headsets given away. Many major news outlets including CBC and Global TV were present in addition to a great turnout from the general public. Feedback from attendees showed that virtual reality is a great alternative to engage the public with ideas such as the West Eau Claire park over comparable 2D still renders and animations.