---
title: "Oxford University captures historic Divinity School in 3D"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/oxford-university-captures-historic-divinity-school-3d/
date: 2026-02-17
modified: 2026-02-17
lang: en
author: "Tess Boissonneault"
description: "The University of Oxford in England is home to many historic sites, from the Baroque-style Radcliffe Camera library to the 16th century Christ Church College, which counts 13 prime ministers..."
categories:
  - "3D Scanning and Metrology"
  - "3D Visualization"
  - "Architecture"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oxford-divinity-room-2-640x480.jpg
word_count: 593
---

# Oxford University captures historic Divinity School in 3D

The University of Oxford in England is home to many historic sites, from the Baroque-style Radcliffe Camera library to the 16th century Christ Church College, which counts 13 prime ministers and many influential authors among its alumni. One of the university's most famous sites—not least because of its use as a *Harry Potter *filming location—is the Divinity School, a 15th century room renowned for its ornate vaulted ceiling. Recently, in a bid to preserve and also promote the historic structure, the University of Oxford embarked on the ambitious mission to 3D scan the entire ceiling.

The project is part of a collaboration between the university's Bodleian Libraries, ARCHiOx (an initiative that is capturing 3D scans of the library's collection), and the Factum Foundation (a not-for-profit dedicated to cultural preservation through technology). Together, the partners have set the groundwork for capturing extensive imaging data of the Divinity School's ceiling in order to create a high-resolution 3D model.

[![Oxford University captures historic Divinity School in 3D](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oxford-divinity-room-1.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oxford-divinity-room-1.jpg)(Photo: VoxelMatters)

The scanning process itself started in October 2024, when a team from the Factum Foundation travelled from Spain to Oxford to capture the ceiling using a combination of photogrammetry and LiDar. A milestone was achieved in time for the 10th anniversary of the Weston Library in March 2025, where a high-res recording and a number of full-scale facsimiles made of resin were on display. On a personal visit to Oxford last week, the small team could still be seen scanning the fine details of the vaulted ceiling from a tall scaffolding structure.

The university has several goals in 3D scanning the Divinity School. First, the 3D model will play a role in the preservation of the [unique architectural structure](https://www.voxelmatters.com/category/professional-additive-manufacturing/architecture/). For instance, it is conceivable that if any damage or wear occurs in future years, the high-resolution 3D model and 3D printing could be used as a basis for restoration. More immediately, the 3D scan data and 3D models are being used to recreate samples of the stone ceiling that can be viewed up close, encouraging visitors to interact more closely with the architectural wonder that is the Divinity School.

As the Tactum Foundation [states](https://factumfoundation.org/our-projects/digitisation/archiox-analysing-and-recording-cultural-heritage-in-oxford/the-divinity-school-at-oxford-university/): "These masterpieces of perpendicular gothic stone carving are on public view, but the complexity of their iconography and meaning go unnoticed by the thousands of visitors who see the Divinity School as the infirmary in the *Harry Potter* films." The 3D models will also allow researchers to study the details of the ceiling.

https://vimeo.com/1071063738?fl=pl&fe=cm

The Divinity School is easily the most ambitious 3D scanning endeavour initiated by ARCHiOx, but it is far from the only one. The ARCHiOx project itself started in 2022 and focuses on using advanced imaging techniques to capture high-resolution images of low-relief architectural features and artefacts in the Bodleian library's collection.

Factum Foundation, for its part, has worked with a range of partners over the years to create 3D models of historic sculptures, architectural features, and more. For example, the Factum team worked with the Musei Capitolini and Fondazione Prada back in 2022 to recreate a 4th century sculpture of Constantine the Great for an exhibition. For this project, photogrammetry and LiDAR were used to capture detailed data of the original sculpture. This digital data was then converted into fragmented 3D models, which were 3D printed in full scale to make positive casts in reinforced resin. More and more we are seeing 3D scanning and 3D printing used for restoration purposes—especially as the skills and craftsmanship involved with manual restoration become increasingly rare. You can read more about [recent 3D printing-enabled restoration projects here](https://www.voxelmatters.com/from-looms-toilets-3d-printing-restoration-projects-2025/).