VIRTUALLY THERE is a web-based real-time interactive simulation of a proposed venue to be built on top of the U.S. Steel building, Pittsburgh’s tallest building that boasts the largest surface area of any skyscraper rooftop in the United States. The ETC project team's goal was to invoke awareness and excitement for the potential High Point Pittsburgh project by creating a virtual environment that offers freedom of movement and a unique experience for each guest.

Along with accessing the virtual simulation's dozen interactive kiosks and exploring its media gallery and video theaters, visitors to the site could also check out the proposed restaurant/café/bar, central atrium and numerous panoramic viewing areas. VT also allowed site visitors to ride elevators or climb stairs to the rooftop promenade and enjoy a virtual fireworks extravaganza.

The team presented their project earlier this week and here is some of the publicity for the project so far!
1. WESA FM (Essential Public Radio - NPR) 5/1/12 - CMU Creates Virtual Observatory from U.S. Steel Tower View
2. POPcity 5/1/12 - High Point Pittsburgh brings back the aerial views of downtown from the US Steel Tower
3. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 5/2/12 - Video shows what the roof of the U.S. Steel Tower could be
4. Carnegie Mellon University press release 4/30/12 - Carnegie Mellon's High Point Pittsburgh Project Team To Present Web-based Simulation of US Steel Tower Rooftop Venue

Experience for yourself via either portal:

Standard Web: HighPointPittsburgh.com
Facebook App: Apps.Facebook.com/Virtually_There

Congratulations to the V.T. online team; producer Sean McChesney, programmers Siddhesh Vichare and Cintia Higashi, artist/designer Sun-Moon Hwang and faculty advisers MK Haley and John Dessler