Project: Virtual Reality Recreation of former hockey arena

Location: Remote, with occasional local research visits in Cornwall, Ontario (optional)

Type: Short-term contract, approximately 5 weeks

Start: Immediately | Final delivery: November 11th, 2026

Compensation: $30/hour, 20 hours per week

Apply by: October 10th

About the Project

This former arena was demolished in 2011, but people still remember it. We're building a VR experience that lets visitors walk through it as it used to stand. We need a 3D and graphic designer who can turn archival drawings, photographs, and memories into a convincing, optimized, VR-ready environment.

What You'll Do

Model and design (the core of the role)

- Build the arena's structure (walls, floors, seating bowl, concourse, ceiling, and key features) in Blender, SketchUp, or similar, working from scaled floor plans and reference imagery
- Start with accurate blockouts to lock in scale and layout, then add detail in priority order
- Model hero assets such as seats, scoreboard, signage, banners, and other recognizable objects
- Create period-accurate textures and materials (concrete, wood, paint, metal, worn surfaces)
- Recreate signage, logos, advertising, banners, and graphics in the style of the era, using vector and raster tools
- Use photogrammetry on archival photos where it's practical for specific objects

Light and assemble

- Set up lighting that matches the arena's real atmosphere, including fixtures, colour temperature, and game-day feel
- Import and assemble the environment in Unity or Unreal Engine, optimized for standalone headsets such as Meta Quest
- Work with our developer on basic VR interaction (OpenXR, teleport movement, and optionally a few pick-up-able objects)
- Add ambient sound layers (crowd, echo, and arena noise) using audio we provide or source together

Research

- Review blueprints, photos, film footage, and clippings we've gathered,



and find gaps that need filling
- Extract dimensions and proportions from reference material, and flag where sources conflict or you're making an informed guess
- Take part in or review notes from oral-history interviews to capture details like colours, layout, and atmosphere
- Keep a simple log of sources used for each asset

What We're Looking For

Required

- A portfolio of 3D environment or architectural visualization work
- Proficiency in Blender, SketchUp, or comparable 3D software
- Strong graphic design skills (Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, Affinity, or equivalent)
- Experience with texturing and PBR materials
- Understanding of real-time optimization (polygon budgets, texture sizes, baked lighting) for VR
- Ability to work from incomplete or contradictory reference material
- Reliable, self-directed work habits and clear communication under a tight deadline

Nice to Have

- VR project experience, especially on Quest hardware
- Photogrammetry experience (RealityCapture, Meshroom, Agisoft)
- Background in historical or heritage reconstruction
- Sound design or audio implementation skills
- Interest in sports, music, or local history

Final delivery by November 11th.

Deliverables

- Final 3D setting, optimized and running in Unity on Meta Quest
- Source files for all models, textures, and graphics, organized and labeled
- Exported assets in standard formats (FBX/glTF, PNG/TIFF, AI/SVG)
- A short document listing reference sources, assumptions made, and areas of low confidence

How to Apply

Send the following to [email protected] by October 10th:

- A résumé or CV
- A portfolio or links showing 3D environment, VR, graphic design or architectural work
- A brief note on how you would prioritize detail given a five-week deadline

We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, and accessibility accommodations are available on request.

Pay: $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 per week

Benefits

- Flexible schedule

Work Location: Remote

📌 3D Environment Artist / Designer (Contract) (Canada)
🏢 Poptronic VR
📍 Canada