Creation of the AR City

The Downtown Aurora AR City was born from a question: What if Aurora’s stories could appear exactly where they happened?

Community workshops, mapping walks, youth design labs, and history sessions shaped this immersive digital layer.

Co-Design Workshops

• Story circles with elders, business owners, youth
• AR sketch-walks on East Colfax
• Historic research & cultural partnerships

Guiding Principles

• Place first — tech supports the street
• Co-authored — community ownership
• Accessible — free, mobile-friendly
• Expandable — scalable across Aurora

Implementation & Technology

The AR City uses mobile AR, geolocation anchors, spatial audio, and 3D content pipelines to ensure digital scenes align with real architecture.

Technology Stack

• iOS & Android AR App
• High-precision geo + visual anchors
• 3D models, audio tours, volumetric media
• Creator submission dashboard
• Privacy-safe analytics

Rollout Phases

• Phase 1: Mapping & scanning
• Phase 2: Prototyping landmark AR
• Phase 3: District-wide activation
• Phase 4: Ongoing seasonal updates

How It Works

• Scan markers on murals, windows, and buildings
• AR scenes appear instantly
• Users explore freely or via tours
• Businesses host interactive storefront layers

Experiences

Story-Driven Tours

• Aurora Then & Now — historic reconstructions
• Colfax Stories — resident voices & oral history
• Youth Futures Walk — youth-designed AR murals

Everyday AR Moments

• Animated posters
• Storefront interactions
• Mini-games & live events

Partnerships & Governance

The AR City is co-stewarded by arts institutions, local organizations, youth programs, and tech studios.

• City arts & culture
• Historic preservation groups
• Downtown business associations
• Youth education programs
• XR/AR developers

Get Involved

• Artists can create site-specific AR scenes
• Businesses can host AR experiences
• Youth can participate in AR design labs

FAQ

Do I need special hardware?

No — any recent iOS/Android phone works.

Is it free?

Yes — visitors access all public AR scenes at no cost.

Can it expand?

Yes — the AR system is designed to scale citywide.

Contact & Next Steps

• Email: info@downtownauror-arcity.org
• Office: Downtown Aurora, CO
• Hours: Mon–Sat, 10 AM–6 PM