City Of Chicago Model  - Process

 
  
 
Our first task was to create an accurate, up-to-date digital model of the city.
 
We created the this model using several sources of building data, including files Columbian Model and Exhibit Works have collected over two decades of modeling buildings in Chicago.
 
All buildings were checked for accuracy by comparing one source against another and a "drive-by" when necessary.
 
Now months after installation, we continue to update the model, helping the Chicago Architecture Foundation maintain an up-to-date model of the city.
 
 Click here to see a video of the information on John Welin's screen.


Three Chicagoland companies donated the enormous amount of rapid prototyping needed to produce over 400 blocks of Chicago's tallest buildings. Baxter Healthcare, Molex, and DSM Somos worked in concert to produce an average of 40 buildings a week for over 3 months.


While our partners were fabricating batches of buildings, we were busy preparing the building files for rapid prototyping. The technology allows us to add amazing amounts of detail, because the machine doesn't care if it is making a plain box, or a facade like the Wrigley Building. Pictured below is a screen shot of our Wrigley file and a picture of it fresh out of the SLA machine. We paid particular attention to the historic portions of Michigan Avenue. Take a look next time you see the model. We added all extra detailing as we prepared the files.



With three fabrication sites and six CMEW employees preparing files, it was important to be on top of the flow of files to the fabricators, and the buildings returning to our shop. Terry Kreplin, Senior Engineering Specialist, Applied Science & Technology Device Center of Excellence, Baxter Healthcare is pictured below visiting our studio to see our progress by April of 2009. Mr. Kreplin made a video for release to Baxter Healthcare personnel explaining the fabrication process . They were kind enough to share. You can see 3d printers making the buildings, and get a better understanding of the process.
 

 
Process
 
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