Bringing the Washington, D.C. Kit to life was a journey through architecture, scale, and cinematic detail. From iconic landmarks like the U.S. Capitol and White House to neoclassical museums, plazas, and civic buildings, our artists and modelers faced the challenge of capturing both authenticity and versatility.
In this Behind the Kit feature, the team shares what inspired them, the challenges they overcame, and the favorite details that made this Kit a truly monumental project.
What was your favorite part about working on Washington, D.C. and why?
“I really enjoyed diving into the historical architecture of D.C. and its strong neoclassical influence. Understanding the origin of the materials used, like the Aquia Creek sandstone in the White House or the Colorado marble in the Lincoln Memorial, was key to capturing their authenticity. Stone also symbolizes the prestige and stability that define the city, something I aimed to reflect faithfully in the textures.” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
“The detail in the architecture was mind-boggling. Every reference I gathered, even if it was the same object, I repeatedly found more and more details which made me appreciate these iconic buildings even more.” -Joseph Sylvester, 3D Modeler
“I had previously visited D.C. and it was amazing to relive that visit, to see the buildings modeled and say, “I was there!” It made me look at the photos I took a while back to see if I could use them as material references.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
What was the most challenging part about this Kit? How did you overcome that challenge?
“As I said before the buildings are massively large like the capitol or the FBI Quarter it is always a challenge to try to hide the tile textures in very large areas. Plus it has a lot of detail in the modeling.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
“Defining the type and number of variants for textures that used blocks, tiles, and joints was the most challenging part. Some surfaces required tailor-made textures due to their size, for example, and relying on just 1 or 2 materials wouldn’t always be the most optimal solution.” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
What was the biggest thing you learned while developing the Kit?
“I learned not to be afraid to ask for extra time whenever necessary. From the beginning, I knew that the Kit would be challenging in terms of quality vs. quantity.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
“Optimizing doesn’t always mean using fewer resources. In cases where a specific material is necessary, it’s better to create it rather than relying on overused ones, which can end up making the Kit feel bland. Plus, this way, users will have a wider variety of materials to work with if they want to edit the look of a structure or use the textures in another project with different Kits.” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
Is there anything about the Washington, D.C. Kit you'd like to highlight or shout out?
“The texture team really did amazing on this! I can't wait to make something with this Kit.” - Joseph Sylvester, 3D Modeler
“I don’t think I’ve ever worked on a Kit of this scale before, and finishing it felt like a historic milestone (no pun intended). Reiteration was necessary, and I’m really grateful for the guidance our leads provided along the way. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to deliver a Kit of this quality and craftsmanship within the given timeframe.” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
Do you have a favorite asset from the Kit?
“My favorite asset is the Capitol Building. It. Was. A. BEAST. But I loved it. There are so many details, and it has such interesting architecture.” -Joseph Sylvester, 3D Modeler
“Definitely the White House, as it is the protagonist of many of my favorite action movies, as well as the museum for the contrast in textures and colors.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
“On the classical side, the Supreme Court is my favorite, along with the Federal Reserve. Working on the interior courtyards was really interesting, especially when I had to figure out how to play with the floor pavers to create striking patterns. As for the buildings not based on historical structures, I’d highlight the Modern Office Complex. Despite being minimalist and simple, it turned out very grounded, and I hope users enjoy using it in their scenes!” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
Was there anything that surprised you about this theme or the Kit while you worked on it?
"The fact that the historical buildings in Washington D.C. were made with such a wide variety of stones was what surprised me the most." - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
Which material or asset were you the most excited about creating and why?
“I really enjoyed working on the trims, especially for the old post office which has many materials in addition to the trims that enhance this iconic building.” - Gabs Herrera, Material Artist
“I've created more materials for this Kit than any other, but if I had to pick just one, my favorite is definitely the marble/concrete steps I designed for the entrances of several historical buildings. Both the marble and concrete variants feature sections with subtle edge wear that, when applied correctly (similar to a trim sheet), make the outer edges of the stairs look high-poly. And this effect is even more pronounced when used on meshes that have Korean Bevels on those edges (as a side note: I’ve never understood why that modeling technique is called like that, haha).” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist
From painstaking material creation to the careful modeling of massive landmarks, the Washington, D.C. Kit is a testament to the team’s dedication, craft, and attention to detail. Whether it’s the Capitol, the White House, or a modern office complex, each asset reflects hours of research, design, and refinement. We can’t wait to see how creators use this Kit to build cinematic worlds, interactive experiences, and educational scenes that bring the capital to life.
Washington, D.C. is available now in Cargo and on our web store. Fire it up and start building, then tag @KitBash3D to show us what rises from the other side. We can’t wait to see what haunts your imagination.
