Sutro Tower is instantly recognizable on SF’s skyline, yet very few know what purpose it serves, and even fewer have been able to visit. For the first time ever, the tower wanted to provide unparalleled behind-the-scenes access to their 24/7 working facility for online visitors.
A year of complex planning was required to capture over 12,000 images of the entire facility in a narrow weather window, enabling creation of a hyper-detailed digital twin. Technical photographers and videographers climbed to insane heights to shoot ultra-high resolution images of the structure and the surrounding landscape, and producers conducted interviews and sifted through 50 years of archives to assemble a cohesive 50-year history.
Explore Sutro Tower takes visitors on an interactive 3D tour of the facility in extreme detail, including virtually walking the catwalks and taking in the views from the very top. A newly-produced documentary chronicles the 50+ year history of the tower, and a photographic archive shares photos from the tower’s past, free to download and use.
Given the off-limits nature of the facility, the virtual tour needed to provide access to areas that wouldn’t be possible even on a physical tour. Using cutting edge 3D digital reconstruction techniques enabled creation of a digital twin of the tower, allowing tourgoers to fly around and through the tower and support structures as if on a magic carpet. Clickable hotspots provide deeper dives into key technologies and additional media for the insatiably curious.
A custom 3D printed model represents the key areas and systems of the fab, but much like in real life, the interesting stories are hidden behind the facades.
The virtual tour lets visitors virtually ride Sutro Tower’s tiny service elevator up to the top, walk around on its catwalks, and even go inside the broadcast facility to see how signals get “from the street to your seat.” Some vantage points are only visited by the tower’s maintenance staff, who climb to extreme heights daily, enjoying the best views available anywhere in SF.
Careful planning (and a golden window from the fog) helped to create the highest resolution panroamic gigapixel photos of the surrounding landscape taken from the highest ground-based point in San Francisco. Locals and SF fans worldwide can see landmarks and scenery they may have never before seen from the city, including the Farallon Islands and San Jose.
A specially-engineered sliding rail system and 9:32 aspect ratio displays in a custom enclosure allow visitors to explore the entirety of the model as if they were holding a tablet, without the issues associated with tablets in public spaces.
Above the Fog is a short-form documentary that looks at Sutro Tower from a variety of perspectives - historically, functionally, and culturally. It features recently-unearthed archival footage, along with interviews from those who built it, those who opposed its building, and the workers that keep it functioning safely 24/7/365.
Sutro Tower opened its archives to public by sharing 50 years of photos, including behind-the-scenes shots of its construction and events through the ages. For history buffs, it’s a magical resource, and for creative types, every photo is available royalty-free for download.
Special guests can take the tour in mixed reality via Microsoft Hololens 2. Up to eight visitors can explore the fab model at the same time.
Sutro Tower’s unique shape and visible-from-everyone location in the city has prompted many rumors and speculation as to its purpose over the years. The site explains its true raison d’etre as a broadcast facility and critical part of SF communications infrastructure, answering questions about why it exists, the reasoning behind its design, and how it works. The content is available freely and is available for local tour guides, libraries, and other groups to use.
