UC San Diego’s Triton Center is a prime example of how XR marketing can revolutionize the promotion of campus building projects. They implemented a multi-faceted approach using web XR, mobile AR, and 360 renderings to engage their audience across different touchpoints.
UCSD’s Goals for CampusXR Partnership
UC San Diego’s partnership with CampusXR focuses on using innovative extended reality (XR) marketing to promote the exciting new Triton Center capital project. This cutting-edge development will transform the heart of campus, and the goal is to engage the UCSD community by showcasing the vision for the future. Through immersive AR and 360-degree virtual experiences, students, faculty, and potential donors can get an in-depth look at what the Triton Center will bring to campus life, from its design to its long-term impact on the community.
As the project unfolds over the next four years, CampusXR will provide a dynamic platform to visualize the future of the Triton Center. With AR deployed both onsite and online, visitors can explore the development remotely or engage with interactive models while on campus. A standout feature of the experience is the 360-degree view of the plaza, which offers a lifestyle-oriented perspective on how the center will enhance student life. This platform will also showcase key donors and their contributions, helping to highlight the community’s collective support for this transformative project. Through this engaging XR experience, UCSD is creating a powerful connection between the present campus community and the exciting possibilities ahead.
What We Created
- Web XR: UCSD created an interactive 3D model of the Triton Center accessible directly from any web browser. Users could click a link to explore the model on their devices, rotating and zooming in on different areas of the project. Interactive pop-ups provided detailed descriptions of the alumni center's purpose and features. This experience can be integrated into the project’s website, shared on social media, and displayed on screens around the campus, giving everyone a virtual tour of the new development.
- Mobile AR: To make the experience even more interactive, UCSD incorporated the Triton Center model as mobile AR. Printed materials like brochures and posters featured QR codes that, when scanned, displayed the 3D model of the Triton Center overlaid onto the real world. Viewers could place the virtual building on a table or even at the construction site, creating a compelling and realistic preview of what the finished project would look like. This interactive experience was particularly effective in engaging stakeholders who could not visit the site itself, offering a tangible sense of what the project would look like once finished.
- Web 360 Renderings: Also geared towards alumni and other off-campus stakeholders, UCSD offered 360-degree images of the future Triton Center Plaza. Viewers could scroll through the immersive renderings, exploring the space and learning about different features through pop-up stories. These 360 renderings can also be shared on social media, generating buzz and providing a sneak peek into the heart of the new development.
- VR 360 Renderings: To engage anyone who passed the construction site itself, UCSD also provided VR 360 renderings. By scanning a QR code printed onto the fence of the site on their phone, viewers could access a 360-degree view of the Triton Center Plaza that moved as they turned around in real time, feeling as if they were standing right in the middle of the completed space. This VR experience was used effectively at the construction site and particularly impressed visiting prospective students and parents on campus tours, sparking excitement and conversation about the future of the campus.
*Note: Click on 'View in web' to view the 3D website embed, or 'Place in AR' to place the model in your physical environment (only on mobile)