Modeling Margaret Evans Hall in SketchUp was quite a process. I realized that the pictures that I had found on the Carleton databases only had one side of the building, which does not work when using photo match. So, I had to keep looking on the Carleton databases to find a picture of Carleton that showed two sides of Evans Hall. After finding a good picture, I could start modeling the building on SketchUp.
At first I found setting up the photo match frustrating, as a small error in the axes would throw off the whole model of the building. It took me a few tries to get the axes perfectly in line with the picture. I thought that the process of photo matching was similar to free form modeling after the set up of the axes. I first started with a large rectangle that I extruded to get the basic shape of Evans Hall. Then I drew the specific features of the hall from the picture and extruded those either in or out in the model. This process worked well, starting with a big block and then whittling it down to the final shape of Evans hall. After the shape of the building was complete, I added the textures to the model from the picture. The textures were not perfect as there are sometimes objects such as trees obstructing the building. I thought that I had done a pretty good job modeling Evans Hall, even though there were a few minor details that are missing from the building.
Attempting to represent Evans Hall in three dimensions gave me a better idea of the spacial properties of the building. From building the model, I could understand the depths of the building that cannot be seen from a two dimension picture. I don’t think that this model of Evans Hall by itself will make a contribution to scholarship. What is done with the model of Evans Hall will determine if the model makes a contribution to scholarship. The end result of modeling Carleton’s campus and presenting it will make a contribution to scholarship, but one model in a vacuum does not make any contribution.
Model of Evans Hall
Picture of Evans Hall
I like the model you have made. I can tell that you have put in quite some effort since modeling Evans is extremely challenging. Even though the photo only provides one side of building, I think that your design is very accurate and precise. I also agree with some of your minor issues or troubles you encountered as I also experienced them in my model. Perhaps next time you can take and post multiple screenshots of the process for your model so that the readers can have a better understanding? 😉