Scannockburn – Preserve Bannockburn Village in 3D

Our Mission

Scannockburn is a rapid initiative to fully 3D scan and archive Bannockburn Village, the original campus apartments at UC Riverside. The goal is to capture every building, apartment, staircase and courtyard in immersive detail and share the digital record freely with students, alumni and historians.

The Story of Bannockburn Village

Bannockburn Village has been home to generations of UCR students since it opened in the late 1960s. The complex was built as an affordable off‑campus housing option with wood‑frame buildings arranged around courtyards ^[1]. By 2026 it housed about 340 residents in 243 apartments across twenty‑two buildings ^[1]. UCR purchased the complex in 1975 for $3 million after Chrysler Realty built the 730‑resident village five years earlier ^[2]. The acquisition more than doubled married‑student housing on campus ^[2].

Despite its quirky charm and decades of memories, Bannockburn has aged. The wood‑frame structures need extensive plumbing, electrical and HVAC upgrades that would cost more than $20 million ^[1]. Housing Services announced in February 2026 that the village will be demolished after June 30 because maintaining it has become too costly ^[1]. Once demolition begins, the building that sheltered thousands of students and hosted beloved businesses like the Sub Station sandwich shop will vanish forever.

Support the Preservation

Your generosity ensures that Bannockburn's story is preserved. Every dollar goes directly toward renting scanning gear, paying for secure data storage and compensating student volunteers who will bring this archive to life.

This is about more than saving a building—it’s about honouring decades of student life, preserving community heritage and making the history of Bannockburn freely accessible online long after the walls are gone. With your help we can record the entire village in high fidelity before demolition begins and publish the scans for future generations of students and researchers.

Why It Matters

Preserve a Legacy

Document a piece of campus history for future generations before it disappears.

Virtual Museum

Create immersive tours and educational materials from the scans.

Research & Education

Provide high‑quality 3D data for architects, historians and students.

What We Need

To capture Bannockburn before demolition begins this summer we need to assemble equipment, team members and funding quickly:

High‑end 3D scanners & cameras: portable lidar units, photogrammetry rigs and drones for interior and exterior capture.
Technical experts: volunteers experienced with 3D scanning, photography, data processing and archival metadata.
Access & permits: coordination with UCR Housing Services to scan apartments, courtyards and commercial spaces during spring and early summer.
Funding support: donations to rent gear, pay for storage and create web‑based exhibits.

Equipment Needed

Cameras & Tripods

High‑resolution DSLR cameras and sturdy tripods enable crisp photogrammetry of interiors and exteriors.

LiDAR Scanners

Portable LiDAR units capture precise 3D geometry of walls, staircases and landscapes in minutes.

Drones

Quadcopters equipped with cameras allow aerial mapping and documentation of rooftops and courtyards.

Location

Bannockburn Village stands at 3615–3663 Canyon Crest Drive along the east edge of the UC Riverside campus. Use the interactive map below to explore the site:

View larger map (OpenStreetMap contributors)

Get Involved

If you’re passionate about preserving campus history, there are many ways to help:

Volunteer your skills: join the scanning crews or help process data.
Share your memories: contribute photos, stories and floor plans of Bannockburn to enrich the digital archive.
Spread the word: let classmates and alumni know about the project using #Scannockburn.
Donate: every contribution helps us rent equipment, store data and build the online museum.