The Chicago Collection

After the successful launch IN 2016 of its flagship Manhattan Collection, Microscape is has introduced the Second City; s new collection of thirty-six highly detailed models capturing downtown Chicago These models exceed the already high standard for quality and detail set by the original Manhattan Collection, with a new, more precise 3D-printing process and additional layers of scan data near ground level picking up the bridges over the Chicago River, the ferris wheel on Navy Pier and the complex layering of streets and El tracks in and around the Loop. As with the Manhattan Collection, Microscape’s Downtown Chicago Collection slices up the city into a north-south-oriented grid of six-inch squares. Each square equates to approximately 1/2 of a mile (around four Windy City blocks) at 1:5000 scale. The 1.3° skew from true north of Chicago’s street grid makes for a more visually interesting sculptural piece, as streets, buildings, bridges and the Chicago River are all cut through at a slight angle. Beginning with its home base of Manhattan, Microscape has been collecting aerial 3D scans of cities and processing the data into 3D-printed models. Thousands of these micro-cityscapes — as well as larger, custom installation pieces — have already shipped to architects, urban designers, preservationists and real estate developers around the world. Beyond those in fields that deal with the built environment, Microscape models have been received with tremendous enthusiasm by non-specialists who feel a sentimental connection to New York City and now, Chicago. Microscape began as an informal collaboration between architecture and design firms AJSNY and TO+WN DESIGN, whose combined two decades of experience in digital modeling, photogrammetry, product design and 3D printing was channeled into the initial Manhattan Collection product line. Links: – https://microscape.co/pages/the-chicago-collection