Closing Bell: A Fundraiser to Digitally Preserve the New York State Pavilion

The University of Central Florida’s Institute for Simulation and Training, alongside the non profit company CyArk, launched a Kickstarter to operate a 3D laser scan of the New York State Pavilion and create a digital record to aid preservation. Here are a few details on the unique project…

Digitally preserving the New York State Pavilion with 3D laser scanning can create an accurate record to serve as a base data set to aid conservation and future restoration. It will take our joint UCF and CyArk team five (5) days to 3D map the steel and concrete ruins of the Pavilion’s Observation Towers and Tent of Tomorrow.

The field work to record the Pavilion in 3D is scheduled for early June. The team will record the remains of the New York State Pavilion’s Observation Towers and Tent of Tomorrow. If time allows, the team will also capture the Pavilion’s Theaterama to complete the context of the 3D data set (the Theaterama remains in use as the Queens Theater and has thus been maintained).

The meticulously detailed, and millimetrically accurate 3D data can be translated into three-dimensional architectural drawings and models for conservators to plan restoration efforts.

Additionally, the processed 3D data will be made freely available to the public for personal, educational, and scientific research uses.

The team hopes to raise at least $15,000 for the project, and they have already secured permission from the Parks Department to take it on. Given the recent enthusiasm behind preservation of the New York State Pavilion, they may just pull it off.

3D Preservation of a National Treasure [Kickstarter]
All New York State Pavilion coverage [Q’Stoner]