Enable potential donors to visualize how the new Institute for Global Business at The University of Akron will look before it is built.

MontAlto Architecture & Bialowsky Partners, architects of the Institute for Global Business, hired Architechnology to produce an interactive multimedia presentation of the proposed project. The comprehensive presentation would include an animated 3D model and videotaped interviews of the university president and other key people involved.

Fast Rendering on Mac OS X. The 3D model of the proposed building became so large and complex that it required hundreds of hours to render the 3D virtual model. Architechnology put Power Mac G4 computers running Mac OS X to work day and night doing the rendering, enabling Architechnology to meet its deadline.

“The superb memory management of Mac OS X helped us render the huge files,” says Joe Bayer, president of Architechnology. “Mac OS X never runs out of memory, so we were able to put our Power Mac G4s to work overnight and through weekends—without interruption.”

A Full Presentation on DVD. Once the 3D model was complete, including inside and outside furnishings and landscaping, an animator began applying textures such as wall coverings, lighting, and other building attributes. The animator brought the model to life, taking viewers on a moving tour that showcases key features of the proposed building. From there, editors combined the animation with edited video footage. After adding titles, a sound track, and other finishing touches, Architechnology used DVD Studio Pro to produce the final piece on DVD. “DVD Studio Pro handles all the MPEG encoding, menu creation, asset organization, linking, and output formatting, making DVD creation easy,” says Bayer.

Award-Winning Quality. The quality and innovation of the final presentation delighted The University of Akron, and also drew attention from the Axiem Awards, an international competition recognizing “Absolute Excellence in Electronic Media.” Architechnology won the highest honor in the computer animation category.

Measurable Return on Investment. Within a few weeks of distributing the DVDs to major donors, the university secured enough funding to build the basic structure of the Institute. The DVD production continues to be a phenomenal aid in helping the university garner charitable donations, as it enables potential donors to visualize the building and grasp its significance long before it is built.