BC
Brandon Coffey

VR 9/11 Memorial

Immersive Historical Commemoration & Virtual Exhibition

Key art for VR 9/11 Memorial
Role & Leadership

Lead Technical Artist & Programmer

Client: UT Dallas Military and Veterans Center

Year: 2026

Target Platforms
VRMeta Quest 3
Software & Tech Stack
Project Links
Research & Production
Project Highlight

Dallas Public Commemorative Exhibition

Premiered in September 2026 in Dallas, Texas in collaboration with the UT Dallas Military and Veterans Center, offering community members a respectful, historically accurate virtual memorial experience.

The VR 9/11 Memorial is an immersive virtual reality historical commemoration experience developed at the VAST Lab for the UT Dallas Military and Veterans Center. Built in Unreal Engine 5, the project honors the victims, first responders, and service members connected to the events of September 11, 2001.

Architectural Reconstruction & Solemn Atmosphere

The experience focuses on contemplative, solemn exploration. Utilizing Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite geometry virtualization and Lumen global illumination, the environment faithfully recreates commemorative architectural monuments, reflective water pools, and bronze memorial parapets with deep physical material accuracy.

Spatial Audio & Experiential Pacing

A major focus was placed on acoustic design:

  • Directional 3D Audio: Gentle water cascade frequencies dynamically attenuate across the plazas, creating pockets of quiet reflection.
  • Guided Reflection Mode: Visitors can engage with ambient spoken oral histories or explore the grounds in complete silence at their own pace.

Community Exhibition & Impact