LUMINISCENCE

Working on this project was both a technical challenge and a fascinating dive into architectural preservation. We received raw 3D scan data of the Minneapolis Cathedral weighing in at around 22 million polygons, dense, noisy, and far from projection-ready. The first step was to analyze the mesh for non-manifold geometry, flipped normals, and duplicate surfaces before any meaningful work could begin.

The core of the pipeline relied on strategic mesh segmentation, breaking the cathedral down into logical zones such as facades, vaulted ceilings, columns, and towers. Each segment was cleaned and retopologized independently, giving us precise control over edge flow and surface quality. Working in smooth/subdivision mode throughout the process allowed us to maintain clean, continuous surfaces that would later serve as a flawless canvas for the projection mapping.

The final result was a lightweight, well-structured mesh that perfectly matched the real architecture while being fully optimized for large-scale video projection. This kind of work sits right at the intersection of technical art and visual storytelling, where every polygon decision directly impacts what thousands of spectators will experience on the night of the show.