The Alma Mater showed up for Commencement after all, though not in the form most would have expected.

Campus’ most famous statue was taken away for renovations in August with an intention for a return for Commencement, but the University in March announced that the Alma Mater would not be finished with its renovations until 2014, meaning that Class of 2013 graduates would not get a chance to take a photo by the Alma Mater, a popular graduation picture opportunity.

The University then said that it would make up for the absence with replica statues made by art and design students displayed across campus over Commencement weekend. But campus officials ended up bringing the Alma Mater back to its original home, at least graphically.

University employees worked to develop an augmented reality version of the statue, visible on iOS devices. The 63-day endeavor included a 3-D scan of the Alma Mater, the development of a mobile application and a system to make the statue visible to iOS devices.

Joel Steinfeldt, brand manager for the University, said it was the first time this technology has been used. He said the idea for the project came from Facilities and Services, but many University offices, ranging from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to Public Affairs, collaborated to make the project possible.

Travis Ross, visualization laboratory manager at the Beckman Institute, worked with another company for three days to develop the 3-D model that was used for the visual. Although the renovations were not complete, the team was able to travel to Forest Park, Ill., and scan the statue.

The augmented reality image was the first place in which the Alma Mater’s new bronze finish could be seen. Ross said the team worked for hours to perfect the correct tint because the new bronze finish is not yet complete on the statue, and it was hard to adjust for natural lighting.

The application was available for download in the Apple Store, and people who downloaded the application could view the Alma Mater in three dimensions, and from 180 degrees, via a picture on top of the Alma Mater statue that interacted with the application to form the image.

Students were informed about the statue in a mass email sent to students by Chancellor Phyllis Wise.

In the memo, Wise said, “As you commemorate this milestone in your life, we know many of you miss the iconic Alma Mater sculpture as a backdrop for Commencement photographs.

“With that in mind, we have created several options for you, the most innovative of which is the Augmented Reality Alma Mater.”

Nicole Conway, a Class of 2013 ACES graduate, said she was mad when she heard the Alma Mater wouldn’t be back for her Commencement, and she did not think that the augmented reality version would make up for it.

After seeing the statue, Conway said the University redeemed itself, saying the new application was “kinda cool.”

In addition to the augmented reality statue, the University created 6-foot replica statues and placed them around campus for photo opportunities at places like the Alice Campbell Alumni Center and the Quad.

The Alma Mater was designed by University alumnus and sculptor Lorado Taft. The statue was completed in 1929, and was a gift from the graduating classes from 1923 to 1929. The Alma Mater hadn’t been renovated for decades prior to the $100,000 renovation.

Johnathan can be reached at [email protected] and @jhett93.