Mixed reality in the heart of Aurora
Explore Downtown Aurora as an Augmented Reality city.
The Downtown Aurora AR City overlays digital stories, history, art, and community voices directly onto real streets, murals, and buildings.
Historic storytelling
Local business AR
Youth-created art
Wayfinding & tours
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.
