Boathouse Re-opening

August 06, 2009

Digital Element Attends the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Newly Restored Lake Merritt Boathouse.

Digital Element CEO, Don McClure, proudly attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly restored Lake Merritt Boathouse on Thursday, August 6, 2009.

McClure's local software engineering company donated an architectural animation software engineering package worth $20,000 to aid in the planning and restoration of the 100 year old building.

"This day was a long time coming for Oakland, " says McClure, "Digital Element donated our architectural, landscaping, 3d engineering, and art services in 2002.  We assisted in the creation of a 'virtual boathouse' to aid citizens and planners alike in visualizing the restoration of this historic building."

Digital Element's WorldBuilder and Verdant software packages were used in the creation of the "virtual boathouse," which allowed viewers to experience planned changes in the landscaping, pathways, and construction of a deck on the water.

The Lake Merritt Boathouse was built in the Mission Revival Style in 1909, and originally served as a fire department pumping station and boathouse.  The building was last used as a  parks and recreation office for the City of Oakland, before investors and citizens decided to reopen the building to the public.  Currently, the boathouse is the home of the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill.

"Digital Element was, of course, a fairly small part of the overall effort. However," McClure noted, observing a Venetian gondola gliding along the lake,  "both as a Rotarian, and as a citizen of the East Bay, I am proud Digital Element had the opportunity to donate our services to helping the community."