Geneseo Project Case Study

Digital Restoration: Geneseo Fountain

The Story:
Geneseo, New York is the home of the State University of New York. The Emmeline Austin Wadsworth Fountain has sat in the center of the village since its dedication in 1888. The Wadsworth family began the Geneseo settlement in 1790 and the Wadsworth Normal School at Geneseo in 1871, which later became SUNY at Geneseo.

The fountain, now also known as the Geneseo Fountain, the Bear or the Bear in the Square, was commissioned as a memorial by Emmeline's two sons who thought a bear atop a fountain for watering horses would be a tribute fitting their animal loving mother. The brothers commissioned the architect Richard Morris hunt, designer of the base of the Statue of Liberty, to design the fountain.

The Association for the Preservation of Geneseo, established in 1974, has begun The Geneseo Memorial Fountain Restoration Project, which aims to restore the fountain to its original state. So Far the APOG has successfully replicated the original Gothic torch and replaced the plastic torch that has sat atop the landmark for a number of years. They have also patched the granite basin and replaced a number of hardware items. return to full slide show

The Challenge:
Direct Dimensions was called in to capture the fountain, the pedestal and the bear in a 3D digital model. The model will be archived and used for future restoration and recreation. return to full slide show

The Solution:

3D laser scan the fountain, pedestal and bear on-site using the appropriate scanners
Compile the data to create a high resolution digital model
Work with preservationists to digitally restore the capital using mostly old photographs
Create a CAD model of the granite fountain an pedestal
Combine the CAD data with the digitally restored capital and the 3D model of the bear

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Applications

Digital Molds
3D Archiving
Digital Sculpting
Restoration
Replicas and Editions
Enlargements and Reductions
Crating and Exhibits
Research and Analysis
Fundraising

Services

3D Scanning
3D Modeling
Visualization
Fabrication
Project Management