Behrend alumnus helps team create digital twin of the Liberty Bell

ERIE, Pa. — School trips to the Liberty Bell are a rite of passage for many Pennsylvania students, but few get as close to the bell as Remington Orange did.

For two days this spring, Orange, a 2026 graduate of Penn State Behrend’s Digital Media, Arts and Technology (DIGIT) program, worked with a research team at Independence National Historical Park. In the dark, before the Philadelphia park opened for public tours, Orange, along with classmate Alexander Fisher and Chris Shelton, the director of Behrend’s Virtual/Augmented Reality Lab, circled and crawled beneath the bell, cameras and scanners in hand, creating a highly detailed digital twin of one of America’s most iconic artifacts.

Getting access to a protected National Park Service site took some work. Getting the equipment in was even more difficult: The elevator at the team’s rental apartment was out of service, so the researchers had to haul cases of equipment — computers, cameras and scanners that produce laser-line, LiDAR, structured-light and photogrammetry scans — up three flights of stairs.

“That tested our physical strength and our patience as a team,” Orange said, “but the view of the Liberty Bell from our apartment — and the ‘flights climbed’ record on our phones — made it worth it.”

In the Q&A below, Orange talks about the Liberty Bell project, the DIGIT skills that prepared him for it, and the next step in his career path.

Q: How did the Liberty Bell project come about?

Orange: It was really a matter of perfect timing. We first helped Penn State’s Applied Research Lab by 3D scanning the replica of the Liberty Bell in the [Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center] as part of a project to recreate the sound of the Liberty Bell. That sparked conversations about scanning the real Liberty Bell.

After months of planning and coordination with the National Park Service, I found myself standing in front of one of America’s most iconic landmarks with a scanner in my hand.

Q: The Liberty Bell project reflects Behrend’s Open Lab approach to learning, where students collaborate with external partners on real-world projects. What was it like to apply your skills in that setting?

Orange: It was incredible. Working on real-world projects with outside partners is a real résumé-builder. Potential employers can see that you’ve been able to apply what you learned in the classroom in a meaningful way.

It was also humbling and rewarding. I don’t think people realize how much work goes into a project like this — hours of planning, scanning and even more hours of post-processing. Saying, “Let’s scan the Liberty Bell” is a lot easier than actually doing it.

The most rewarding part was sitting beneath the Liberty Bell and realizing that not many people will ever have that opportunity. I took a moment to appreciate that.

Q: How did the project connect to what you studied at Behrend? What DIGIT skills did you use?

Orange: I think I used nearly every DIGIT skill I learned at Behrend. The project was like a final exam that proved everything I’d learned could be applied in the real world.

I created promotional videos, many of them in 3D, using the modeling and video production skills I developed over four years. Processing the Liberty Bell data drew directly on what I learned from Tommy Hartung [associate professor of Digital Media, Arts and Technology], whose classes taught me to think in 3D, not just 2D.

I also built the VAR Lab webpage for the project, using the web design skills I learned from Elisa Beshero-Bondar, [professor of digital humanities and chair of the Digital Media, Arts and Technology program].

Q: What was your role on the project?

Orange: My main responsibility was planning the scanning, making sure we had good coverage of every section of the bell, and overseeing the technical side of the project.

We all took turns operating the scanner. It wouldn’t have been much fun if only one person got to scan the Liberty Bell.

After we left Philadelphia, my focus shifted to processing the data: Taking all of the individual scans and piecing them together to create the final 3D model. The software does a lot of the work, but it still requires someone who understands how to guide the process and fine-tune the settings.

Q: What did you learn from working with the National Park Service?

Orange: I learned a lot about professionalism. When you’re working with a national treasure, you need clear communication, proper permission, and respect for the people who care for that object. The National Park Service curators were incredibly generous with their knowledge. They shared fascinating details that you won’t find in a textbook or a quick Google search.

I also learned just how much care goes into preserving something like the Liberty Bell. You can’t just walk in and scan it in an hour. Every move has to be carefully planned to avoid touching the bell or its support structure. That level of patience and respect is something you only learn by doing.

Q: Was there a moment when the significance of this opportunity resonated in you?

Orange: When we hauled 500 pounds of equipment into the Liberty Bell Center and stood in front of the bell. In that moment, it was clear this wasn’t a routine project.

The moment I felt most proud came later, back at our makeshift workstation in Philadelphia, as we started piecing together the first scan data. When the bell’s shape appeared on my screen, I knew this was going to work. It was an incredible sense of relief, made even better by the air conditioning after hours of hauling equipment, sweating and navigating the stress of that first day of scanning.

Q: What advice would you give to another student who is considering an Open Lab opportunity?

Orange: Go for it, and make it count. College is one of the few times in life when you can take risks, explore new interests, and work on projects that can have a real impact. If you aren’t already involved in an Open Lab project, reach out to a professor. A single email can open doors you never expected.

That’s exactly what happened to me. Four years ago, I sent an email to the VAR Lab without really knowing what they did. I just wanted an opportunity to learn. Since then, I’ve worked on incredible projects, built lifelong friendships, expanded my portfolio, and made professional connections that have shaped my career. None of that would have happened if I hadn’t taken that first step.

Q: What’s next for you?

Orange: I’m moving to Brazil to pursue a master’s degree in rehabilitation sciences at the Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre.

Rehabilitation science and scanning the Liberty Bell might seem unrelated, but they’re connected through technology. The skills I developed in the DIGIT program — 3D scanning, 3D modeling, digital content creation and design — translate directly to developing medical devices and healthcare solutions. Every piece of medical equipment starts as an idea, becomes a digital model, and ultimately needs to be designed, tested and communicated effectively. I hope to use those skills to create technology that improves people’s lives and makes a meaningful difference.