diff --git a/shared/src/OctalCode.cpp b/shared/src/OctalCode.cpp
index 9a53e7cfb5..9535402f77 100644
--- a/shared/src/OctalCode.cpp
+++ b/shared/src/OctalCode.cpp
@@ -102,3 +102,17 @@ unsigned char * childOctalCode(unsigned char * parentOctalCode, char childNumber
     
     return newCode;
 }
+
+float * firstVertexForCode(unsigned char * octalCode) {
+    float * firstVertex = new float[3];
+    memset(firstVertex, 0, 3 * sizeof(float));
+    
+    for (int i = 0; i < numberOfThreeBitSectionsInCode(octalCode); i++) {
+        int8_t sectionIndex = sectionValue(octalCode + 1 + (3 * i / 8), (3 * i) % 8);
+        for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
+            firstVertex[j] += 0.5 * (int)oneAtBit(sectionIndex, 7 -j);
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return firstVertex;
+}
diff --git a/shared/src/OctalCode.h b/shared/src/OctalCode.h
index b66dcc7199..a292116a75 100644
--- a/shared/src/OctalCode.h
+++ b/shared/src/OctalCode.h
@@ -16,5 +16,6 @@ int bytesRequiredForCodeLength(unsigned char threeBitCodes);
 bool isDirectParentOfChild(unsigned char *parentOctalCode, unsigned char * childOctalCode);
 char branchIndexWithDescendant(unsigned char * ancestorOctalCode, unsigned char * descendantOctalCode);
 unsigned char * childOctalCode(unsigned char * parentOctalCode, char childNumber);
+float * firstVertexForCode(unsigned char * octalCode);
 
 #endif /* defined(__hifi__OctalCode__) */