The Hayes Valley 4D Construction Sequence
Building a mixed-use infill project in Hayes Valley is a logistical nightmare. The site was sandwiched between two historic buildings with zero staging area for materials. The neighborhood association was blocking the project, convinced that the construction traffic would paralyze the street. The developer needed to prove to the City Planning Department and the neighbors that the build was feasible without causing chaos. A 2D construction schedule was too abstract; they needed visual proof.
We created a 4D construction sequence animation by linking the project 3D model to the digital schedule timeline. We animated the demolition, the shoring of the neighbor walls, the arrival of the concrete trucks, and the steel erection week by week. We visually demonstrated how the crane would be positioned to avoid swinging over adjacent properties and how the delivery trucks would cycle through the site without blocking traffic. This animation was played at the community town hall, dismantling the opposition arguments with clear, visual evidence.
Client Name
Urban Infill Partners
Client Type
Construction Management
Location
Hayes Valley, San Francisco
Project focus
Logistics planning and community approval
Color Palette
Construction Yellow, Concrete Grey, Safety Orange
Services Provided
4D Animation, Phasing Visualization
Budget
$18,000
Duration
4 Weeks
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use cinematic storytelling to create emotional buy-in.
1
Visualizing the Invisible
Neighbors were terrified of foundation instability. We animated the subterranean shoring process, showing exactly how the deep soil mixing walls would protect their foundations. Seeing the engineering safeguards in motion alleviated their fear.
Traffic Flow Simulation
We animated the truck turning radiuses. By showing a 3D truck entering and exiting the site without crossing the center line, we proved to the city traffic engineer that the construction logistics plan was safe and viable.
2
3
Phasing Clarity
We color-coded the building phases, foundation, structural steel, facade. This visual clarity helped the non-technical stakeholders understand that the most disruptive heavy construction would be finished in just 4 months, managing their expectations regarding noise and impact.
