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Building-Integrated PhotovoltaicDesigns for Commercial andInstitutional Structures
A Sourcebook for Architects
Patrina Eiffert, Ph.D.Gregory J. Kiss
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AcknowledgementsBuilding-Integrated Photovoltaics for Commercial and Institutional Structures: ASourcebook for Architects and Engineers was prepared for the U.S. Department ofEnergy's (DOE's) Office of Power Technologies, Photovoltaics Division, and the
Federal Energy Management Program. It was written by Patrina Eiffert, Ph.D.,of the Deployment Facilitation Center at DOEs National Renewable EnergyLaboratory (NREL) and Gregory J. Kiss of Kiss + Cathcart Architects.
The authors would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of SheilaHayter, P.E., Andy Walker, Ph.D., P.E., and Jeff Wiechman of NREL, and AnneSprunt Crawley, Dru Crawley, Robert Hassett, Robert Martin, and Jim Rannels ofDOE. They would also like to thank all those who provided the detailed designbriefs, including Melinda Humphry Becker of the Smithsonian Institution,Stephen Meder of the University of Hawaii, John Goldsmith of Pilkington SolarInternational, Bob Parkins of the Western Area Power Administration, SteveCoonen of Atlantis, Dan Shugar of Powerlight Co., Stephen Strong and BevanWalker of Solar Design Associates, Captain Michael K. Loose, Commanding
Officer, Navy Public Works Center at Pearl Harbor, Art Seki of Hawaiian ElectricCo., Roman Piaskoski of the U.S. General Services Administration, Neall Digert,Ph.D., of Architectural Energy Corporation, and Moneer Azzam of ASE Americas,Inc.
In addition, the authors would like to thank Tony Schoen, Deo Prasad, PeterToggweiler, Henrik Sorensen, and all the other international experts from theInternational Energy Agencys PV Power Systems Program, TASK VII, for theirsupport and contributions.
Thanks also are due to staff members of Kiss + Cathcart and NREL for theirassistance in preparing this report. In particular, we would like to acknowledgethe contributions of Petia Morozov and Kimbro Frutiger of Kiss + Cathcart, andRiley McManus, student intern, Paula Pitchford, and Susan Sczepanski of NREL.
On the cover: Architects rendering of the HEW Customer Center in Hamburg, Germany,showing how a new skin of photovoltaic panels is to be draped over its facade and forecourt(architects: Kiss + Carthcart, New York, and Sommer & Partner, Berlin).
Building-Integrated Photovoltaics for Commercial and Institutional Structure
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Building-Integrated Photovoltaics for Commercial and Institutional Structures
ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Design Briefs
4 Times Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Thoreau Center for Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
National Air and Space Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Ford Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Western Area Power Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Yosemite Transit Shelters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Sun Microsystems Clock Tower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
State University of New York, Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Navajo Nation Outdoor Solar Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
General Services Administration, Williams Building . . . . . . . .42
Academy of Further Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Discovery Science Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Solar Sunflowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50Ijsselstein Row Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Denver Federal Courthouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
BIPV Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
BIPV Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Appendix A: International Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Appendix B: Contacts for International Energy AgencyPhotovoltaic Power Systems Task VIIPhotovoltaics in theBuilt Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Appendix C: Design Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
About the Authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
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IntroductionBuilding-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) electric power systems not only produce electricity, they
are also part of the building. For example, a BIPV skylight is an integral component of the building
envelope as well as a solar electric energy system that generates electricity for the building. These
solar systems are thus multifunctional construction materials.
The standard element of a BIPV system is the PV module. Individual solar cells are interconnected
and encapsulated on various materials to form a module. Modules are strung together in an
electrical series with cables and wires to form a PV array. Direct or diffuse light (usually sunlight)
shining on the solar cells induces the photovoltaic effect, generating unregulated DC electric
power. This DC power can be used, stored in a battery system, or fed into an inverter that
transforms and synchronizes the power into AC electricity. The electricity can be used in the
building or exported to a utility company through a grid interconnection.
A wide variety of BIPV systems are available in today's markets. Most of them can be grouped
into two main categories: facade systems and roofing systems. Facade systems include curtain
wall products, spandrel panels, and glazings. Roofing systems include tiles, shingles, standing
seam products, and skylights. This sourcebook illustrates how PV modules can be designed as
aesthetically integrated building components (such as awnings) and as entire structures (such as
bus shelters). BIPV is sometimes the optimal method of installing renewable energy systems in
urban, built-up areas where undeveloped land is both scarce and expensive.
The fundamental first step in any BIPV application is to maximize energy efficiency within the
buildings energy demand or load. This way, the entire energy system can be optimized.
Holistically designed BIPV systems will reduce a buildings energy demand from the electric
utility grid while generating electricity on site and performing as the weathering skin of thebuilding. Roof and wall systems can provide R-value to diminish undesired thermal transference.
Windows, skylights, and facade shelves can be designed to increase daylighting opportunities
in interior spaces. PV awnings can be designed to reduce unwanted glare and heat gain. This
integrated approach, which brings together energy conservation, energy efficiency, building
envelope design, and PV technology and placement, maximizes energy savings and makes the
most of opportunities to use BIPV systems.
It is noteworthy that half the BIPV systems described in this book are on Federal buildings. This is
not surprising, however, when we consider these factors: (1) the U.S. government, with more than
half a million facilities, is the largest energy consumer in the world, and (2) the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) has been directed to lead Federal agencies in an aggressive effort to meet the
governments energy-efficiency goals. DOE does this by helping Federal energy managers identify
and purchase the best energy-saving products available, by working to increase the number and
quality of energy projects, and by facilitating effective project partnerships among agencies,
utilities, the private sector, and the states.
2 Building-Integrated Photovoltaics for Commercial and Institutional Structur
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Because it owns or operates so many facilities, the U.S. government has an enormous number of
opportunities to save energy and reduce energy costs. Therefore, the Federal Energy Management
Program (FEMP) in DOE has been directed to help agencies reduce energy costs, increase their
energy efficiency, use more renewable energy, and conserve water. FEMP's three major work areas
are (1) project financing; (2) technical guidance and assistance; and (3) planning, reporting, and
evaluation.
To help agencies reach their energy-reduction goals, FEMPs SAVEnergy Audit Program identifies
cost-effective energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation measures that can be
obtained either through Federal agency appropriations or alternative financing. FEMP's national,
technology-specific performance contracts help implement cutting-edge solar and other renewable
energy technologies. In addition, FEMP trains facility managers and showcases cost-effective
applications. FEMP staff also identify Federal market opportunities and work with procurement
organizations to help them aggregate purchases, reduce costs, and expand markets.
All these activities ultimately benefit the nation by reducing building energy costs, saving taxpayers
money, and leveraging program funding. FEMPs activities also serve to expand the marketplace
for new energy-efficiency and renewable energy technologies, reduce pollution, promote
environmentally sound building design and operation, and set a good example for state and local
governments and the private sector.
This sourcebook presents several design briefs that illustrate how BIPV products can be integrated
successfully into a number of structures. It also contains some basic information about BIPV and
related product development in the United States, descriptions of some of the major software design
tools, an overview of international activities related to BIPV, and a bibliography of pertinentliterature.
The primary intent of this sourcebook is to provide architects and designers with useful information
on BIPV systems in the enclosed design briefs. Each brief provides specific technical data about the
BIPV system used, including the systems size, weight, and efficiency as well as number of inverters
required for it. This is followed by photographs and drawings of the systems along with general
system descriptions, special design considerations, and mounting attachment details.
As more and more architects and designers gain experience in integrating photovoltaic systems
into the built environment, this relatively new technology will begin to blend almost invisibly into
the nations urban and rural landscapes. This will happen as BIPV continues to demonstrate acommercially preferable, environmentally benign, aesthetically pleasing way of generating
electricity for commercial, institutional, and many other kinds of buildings.
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Close-up view of curtain wall illustrates that BIPV panels (dark panels) can be mountedin exactly the same way as conventional glazing (lighter panels).
des
ignbriefs
4 design briefs: 4 Times Squa
4 Times Square
Location: Broadway and 42nd Street, New York City, New York
Owner: Durst Corporation
Date Completed: September 1999
Architect & Designer: Fox & Fowle Architects, building architects;Kiss + Cathcart Architects, PV system designers
PV Structural Engineers:
FTL/HappoldElectrical Engineers: Engineers NY
Tradesmen Required: PV glazing done by shop labor at curtain wall fabricator
Applicable Building Codes: New York City Building Code
Applicable Electric Codes: New York City Electrical Code and National Electric Code
PV Product: Custom-sized BIPV glass laminate
Size: 14 kWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 13,800 kWh/yr
Gross PV Surface Area: 3,095 ft2
PV Weight: 13.5 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Amorphous silicon
PV Module Efficiency: 6%PV Module Manufacturer: Energy Photovotaics, Inc.
Inverter Number and Size: Three inverters; two 6 kW (Omnion Corp.), one 4 kW (Trace Engineering)
Inverter Manufacturers: Omnion Corp. and Trace Engineering
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
Kiss+Cathcart,Architects/PIX08458
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DescriptionThe tallest skyscraper built in New YorkCity in the 1990s, this 48-story office towerat Broadway and 42nd Street is a some-what unusual but impressive way todemonstrate "green" technologies. Its
developers, the Durst Organization, wantto show that a wide range of healthybuilding and energy efficiency strategiescan and should be incorporated into realestate practices.
Kiss + Cathcart, Architects, are consul-tants for the building towers state-of-the-art, thin-film BIPV system. Working incollaboration with Fox and Fowle, archi-tects for the base building, Kiss + Cathcarthave designed the BIPV system to func-tion as an integral part of the tower's
curtain wall. This dual use makes it oneof the most economical solar arraysever installed in an urban area. EnergyPhotovoltaics of Princeton, New Jersey,developed the custom PV modules tomeet rigorous aesthetic, structural, andelectrical criteria.
Traditionally, solar technologies havebeen considered economical only inremote areas far from power grids or inareas with an unusually high amount ofsunlight. Advances in PV efficiency are
overturning these assumptions, allowingsolar electricity to be generated cost-effectively even in the heart of the city.In fact, PV is the most practical means ofgenerating renewable electricity in anurban environment. Further, BIPV can bedirectly substituted for other claddingmaterials, at a lower material cost thanthe stone and metal it replaces. As thefirst major commercial application ofBIPV in the United States, 4 Times Squarepoints the way to large-scale productionof solar electricity at the point of greatest
use. The next major market for PV maywell be cities like New York that have bothhigh electricity costs and high-qualitybuildings.
Special Design Considerations
The south and east facades of the 37ththrough the 43rd floor were designatedas the sites for the photovoltaic "skin."BIPV was incorporated into the designafter the towers general appearancehad already been decided upon, so the
design briefs: 4 Times Square
BIPV panels have beenintegrated into thecurtain wall instead ofconventional glassspandrel panels on the37th through the 43rdfloor.
The custom-made BIPVpanels are visible in thissidewalk view fromBroadway.
Kiss+Cathc
art,
Architects/PIX06457
Kiss+Cathcart,
Architects/PIX
08460
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installation was made to harmonize withthe established design concept.
PV System ConfigurationThe PV modules replace conventionalspandrel glass in the south and east
facades. There are four different sizesof modules, and they correspond to thespandrel sizes established earlier in thedesign process.
PV Module Mounting andAttachment DetailsThe PV modules are attached to the build-ing structure in exactly the same way thatstandard glass is attached. The glassunits are attached with structural siliconeadhesive around the back edge to an alu-minum frame. An additional silicone bead
is inserted between the edges of adjacentpanels as a water seal.
There is a separate electrical system foreach facade. Each system consists of twosubsystems, feeding two 6-kW invertersand one 4-kW inverter. The larger invert-ers serve the two large-sized PV modules,which have electrical characteristics thatare different from those of the smallerones. Using multiple inverters enables thesystem to perform more efficiently. Theinverters are located in a single electrical
closet at the core of the building. The ACoutput of the inverters is transformedfrom 120 V to 480 V before being fed intothe main electrical riser.
6 design briefs: 4 Times Squar
4 Times Square during construction
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des
ignbriefs
Location: Presidio National Park, Building 1016, San Francisco, California
Owner: U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service
Date Completed: May 1996
Architect & Designer:
Tanner, Leddy, Maytum, StacyStructural and Electrical Engineers: Equity Builders
Tradesmen Required: Glaziers
Applicable Building Codes: California structural and seismic codes
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: Roof-integrated, translucent glass-laminate skylight
Size: 1.25 kWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 716.4 kWh/yr/AC
Gross PV Surface Area: 215 ft2
PV Weight: 8 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline silicon
PV Efficiency: 11% cell, 7% modulePV Module Manufacturer: Solar Building Systems, Atlantis Energy
Inverter Size: 4 kW
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Trace Engineering Model 4048
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
design briefs: Thoreau Center for Sustainability
Thoreau Center for Sustainability
Presidio National Park, Building 1016
The first application forintegrating photovoltaicsinto a Federal building is theskylighted entryway of theThoreau Center in PresidioNational Park.
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DescriptionThe Greening of the Presidio demon-strates the impact of successful partner-ships between the private and publicsector. The Thoreau Center for Sustain-ability is a historic building, located in the
National Historic Landmark District of thePresidio in San Francisco, California. Thegoal of transforming this historic buildinginto an environmentally responsive struc-ture produced an opportunity to applyprinciples of sustainable design andarchitecture and educate the public aboutthem. Within this building rehabilitationproject, materials selected for the renova-tion included recycled textile materials,recycled aluminum, recycled newsprint,recycled glass, and wood grown andharvested sustainably.
The environmentally friendly strategyincluded reducing energy consumptionthrough a Demand Side Management(DSM) Program with the local utility com-pany, PG&E. The building has a highly effi-cient direct/indirect lighting system withtranslucent office panels to allow innerzones to borrow daylight from the perime-ter. The building is heated by an efficientmodular boiler and is cooled by naturalventilation. The BIPV system is a highlyvisible sustainable building feature. The
demonstration of this power system byDOE FEMP, the National RenewableEnergy Laboratory (NREL), and numerousprivate-sector partners illustrates thatBIPV is a technically and economicallyvaluable architectural element fordesigners.
The skylit entryway of the Thoreau Centerfor Sustainability at Presidio NationalPark was the first demonstration in theUnited States of the integration of photo-voltaics into a federal building. Laminated
to the skylight glass are photovoltaic cellsthat produce electricity and also serveas a shading and daylighting design ele-ment. Atlantis Energy provided custom-manufactured PV panels and the systemdesign and integration for this project.The firm was joined by constructionspecialists who made it possible totransform this historic building into anenvironmentally responsive structure.
The solar electricity generated in thePV system in the skylight offsets power
provided by the utility, thereby conservingfossil fuels and reducing pollution.Converting the DC electricity to AC, thesystem can produce about 1300 wattsduring periods of full sun. The systemis fully automatic and requires virtuallyno maintenance. Like other PV systems,
it has no moving parts, so this solargenerating system provides clean, quiet,dependable electricity.
The entry area into the Thoreau Center isa rectangular space with a roof slopingslightly to the east and west. The roof isconstructed entirely of overhead glazing,similar to a large skylight. PV cells arelaminated onto the 200 square feet ofavailable overhead glazing to produceapproximately 1.25 kW of electricity understandard operating conditions. The PV-
produced DC electric power is convertedto high-quality AC by a power-conditioningunit (inverter). After it is converted, thepower enters the building to be consumedby the buildings electrical loads.
Special Design ConsiderationsDesign and construction issues for therelatively small Thoreau Center systemwere similar in many ways to issuesinvolved with designing and constructingmuch larger systems. The panels for this
project were custom-manufactured byAtlantis Energy to meet the estheticrequirements of the architect. The squarpolycrystalline PV cells are spaced farenough apart from one another to permidaylighting and provide pleasant shad-ows that fall within the space. The amou
of daylight and heat transfer throughthese panels was considered in determining the lighting and HVAC requirementsfor the space. The panels themselveswere constructed to be installed in a standard overhead glazing system framewor
The system is installed above seismic-code-approved skylight glazing. The daylighting and solar gains through the PVmodules mounted above the skylight sytem do affect the building lighting andHVAC loads, but the modules do not also
serve as the weathering skin of this building envelope. Originally, the design callefor the PV modules to replace the skylighunits. But during design approval, localbuilding code authorities were uncertainwhether the modules could meet seismicode requirements. So the alternativedesign, stacking the skylights and themodules, was used instead.
To ensure that the glazing used in manu-facturing the PV panels was acceptableaccording to Uniform Building Codes
8 design briefs: Thoreau Center for Sustainabili
The PV arrays produce electricity and serve as a daylighting designelement.
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design briefs: Thoreau Center for Sustainability
This schematic drawing shows how the PV modules were attached above the conventional skylight glazing.
02527226m
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des
ignbriefs
design briefs: National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum
Location: Dulles Center, Washington, DC
Owner: Smithsonian Institution
Date Completed: Construction begun in 2000, scheduled for completion in 2003
Architect & Designer: HOK, Building Architects; Kiss + Cathcart Architects, PV System Designers;Satish Shah, Speigel, Zamel, & Shah, Inc.
Structural Engineers: N/A
Electrical Engineers: N/A
Tradesmen Required: Building tradesmen
Applicable Building Codes: BOCA, Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: Various BIPV systems
Size: To be determined for BIPV curtain wall, facades, and canopy
Projected System Electrical Output: 15.12 kWh for the canopy system
Gross PV Surface Area: 223 m2 for the canopy system
PV Weight: 5 lb/ft2 for the canopy system
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline cells, amorphous silicon film for various systems
PV Efficiency: Systems will range from 5% to 12%PV Module Manufacturer: Energy Photovoltaics, Inc., for the
canopy system
Inverter Number and Size: To be determined
Inverter Manufacturer & Model: To be determined
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
Project OvervieAxonomet
PV CanopyPV Curtain Wall
02527218
The BIPV installations at theentryway will demonstratedifferent BIPV systems andtechnologies, such as thinfilms and polycrystallinesolar cells.
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DescriptionThe National Air & Space Museum(NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution isone of the most-visited museums in the
world. However, its current building onthe Mall in Washington, D.C., can accom-modate only a fraction of NASMs collec-tion of historical air- and spacecraft.Therefore, a much larger expansion facil-ity is planned for a site adjacent to DullesAirport. Since the new facility will exhibittechnologies derived from space explo-ration, the use of solar energy, which haspowered satellites and space stationssince the 1950s, is especially fitting forthis new building.
Kiss + Cathcart, Architects, are undercontract to the National RenewableEnergy Laboratory as architectural-photovoltaic consultants to the
Smithsonian Institution. Working withthe Smithsonian and HOK Architects,Kiss + Cathcart is identifying suitableareas for BIPV, selecting appropriatetechnologies, and designing the BIPVsystems. For DOE FEMP, a partner in theproject, a primary goal is to demonstratethe widest possible range of BIPV applica-tions and technologies in one building.Construction should begin in 2000.
The NASM Dulles Center will serve asan exhibit and education facility. Its
core mission is to protect the nationscollection of aviation and space-flight-related artifacts. It will also house thepreservation and restoration workshops
of the Air and Space Museum.The centers design includes a large,hangar-style main exhibition space thatwill allow visitors to view the collectionsfrom two mezzanines as well as fromground level. It is estimated that morethan 3 million people will visit the centerannually to view aircraft, spacecraft, andrelated objects of historic significance,many of which are too large to display atthe National Air and Space Museum inWashington, D.C. The facility will set new
12 design briefs: National Air and Space Museu
Plan view of BIPV installation at entry areas
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design briefs: National Air and Space Museum
The south- and west-facing facades of the entry hall will be glazed with polycrystalline glass laminates.
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standards for collections managementand the display of large, 20th-centuryfunctional objects.
Smithsonian staff are evaluating the inte-gration of a number of grid-connectedBIPV systems into the building. The NASMDulles Center will be a very large structure(740,000 ft2), with commensurate energy
and water requirements. As part of itseducational mission, the museum plansto exhibit hardware that points to thehistoric use of photovoltaic (PV) powersystems in space; the museum wouldalso like to demonstrate how that tech-nology can be used today in terrestrialapplications such as BIPV. To this end,the Smithsonian is evaluating the highlyvisible application of BIPV at this facilityto meet a portion of its energy require-ments. In this way, two objectives will be
met: (1) reduce the amount of energyrequired from the power grid, especiallyduring peak times, and thus conserveenergy and save operational funds, and(2) demonstrate the use of PV in a highlyvisible context in a much-visited Federalfacility.
Five BIPV subsystems could be demon-
strated at the new NASM facility, includingthe south wall and skylight of the entry"fuselage," the roof of the restorationhangar and space shuttle hangar, thefacade of the observation tower, andawning canopies. The entry fuselagefigure clerestory windows will be a highlyvisible way of demonstrating PV to visi-tors approaching the center. Once in theentryway, visitors would also see thepatterns of shadow and light the frittedglass creates on the floor, thus focusing
visitors attention on the PV. Labels,exhibit material, and museum tour staffcould further highlight the PV arrays andcall attention to the energy savings beinrealized. PV would also be used to powesome exhibit material exclusively. Therelated exhibit materials could highlightthe many connections between PV and
the field of space exploration and utilization, as well as todays construction andbuilding industry.
14 design briefs: National Air and Space Museu
BIPV Canopy detail 1:10
Canopy:Structural Details
BIPV Canopy - section 1:60
02527219m
Thin-film BIPV glasslaminates will functionas the canopy.
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design briefs: National Air and Space Museum
Fuselage detail illustrates patterns of polycrystalline glazing.
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16 design briefs: National Air and Space Museu
Curtain wall details indicate how mullion channels will act as electrical conduits.
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The canopy plan and perspective demonstrate how shading and power output are combined in one architecturalexpression.
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18 design briefs: National Air and Space Museu
Curtain walls typically will be 16 polycrystalline solar cells per panel, laminated between two clear glass panes.
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des
ignbriefs
design briefs: Ford Island 1
Ford Island
Building 44, Pearl Harbor Naval Station
This illustration is a view of the building from the southwest corner; the dark areasrepresent the photovoltaic standing-seam metal roofing material.
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Owner: U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and Hawaiian Electric Company
Date Completed: September 1999
Architect & Designer: Victor Olgyay, Fred Creager, and Stephen Meder, University of Hawaii, School ofArchitecture
Structural Engineers: Hawaiian Electric Co.
Electrical Engineers: Hawaiian Electric Co.; Peter Shackelford, Renewable Energy Services, Inc., system integrato
Tradesmen Required: Roofers, electrical contractors
Applicable Building Codes: Uniform Building Code
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: Integrated standing seam metal roof
Size: 2.8 kW DC
Projected System Electrical Output: 9,720 kWh per month
Gross PV Surface Area: 571 ft2
PV Weight: 4 lb/ft2, with the roof
PV Cell Type: Multijunction amorphous silicon
PV Module Efficiency: 5%-6%
PV Module Manufacturer: Uni-Solar
Inverter Number and Size: One, 4-kW
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Trace SW 4048PV
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
02527213m
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DescriptionA partnership consisting of the U.S. Navy,Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO), theUniversity of Hawaii, the U.S. DOE FederalEnergy Management Program (FEMP),and the Utility PhotoVoltaic Group (UPVG)was created in order to design and installa 2-kW, grid-intertied, BIPV retrofit sys-tem using the Uni-Solar standing seam
metal roofing product and to monitor itsperformance for one year. The Universityof Hawaii School of Architecture designedand administered the project and a localutility, HECO, funded it. Additional con-struction cost support was supplied byFEMP, NREL, and the Navy. The utility andthe Navy determined the site, and theinstallation date was scheduled for thethird quarter of 1998 (Figure 1). HECO wasdesignated to be the client for the firstyear, after which the Navy will assumeownership of the system.
The tropical location (21 North) and thesites microclimate make it an ideal loca-tion for PV installations. Project plannersexpected an annual daily average of5.4 peak sun hours and 20 to 25 in.(57 cm) of annual rainfall. This project, atthis particular site, will also be testing thelimits of the products used in the installa-tion. Monitoring the performance of the
PV system, the McElroy metal substrate,and the Trace inverter in a tropical marineenvironment will provide valuable perfor-mance information to guide the futuredevelopment and use of these products.
The total cost of this project was $92,000.This included design, procurement, roofremoval and BIPV installation, and a yearof monitoring.
Special Design ConsiderationThe context of this project is the navalindustrial site at Pearl Harbor NavalBase.The site contained a 90 ft x 52 ft(27.4 m x 15.8 m) open-wall boathousestructure. The existing roof of the struc-ture was made of box rib metal on trusse(Figure 2) in gable form, divided longitudnally on its east-west axis. The south
20 design briefs: Ford Islan
In this illustration, the dark areas represent amorphoussilicon laminates on standing seam metal roofing panels.
The array in mid-installation is shaded only by cloud cover.
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slope provides a 90 ft x 26 ft (27.4 m x7.9 m) surface at a 5 incline. This half
of the roof measured approximately2,340 ft2 (217 m2). The box rib roofingwas removed from the entire south-facingslope, and new standing seam pans,including 24 of the Uni-Solar SSR 120photovoltaic standing seam panels,replaced the original roofing.
Integrating the new metal roofing withthe existing roof posed several designand construction challenges. In addition,the longest panel that Uni-Solar could
provide is 20 ft (6.09 m) and the requiredrun is 26+ ft (8 m). This shortfall required
overlapped joints to be used on the endsof the panels and additional purlinesto be welded for support. Full-length,standing-seam panels and non-PV panelswere set in an alternating pattern withthe PV modules. This arrangementallowed the full-length pans to addstrength over the required lap joint ofthe shorter PV units.
The length limitation of the Uni-Solarpanels was a design deficiency of the
Uni-Solar product; unless new PV-to-metal laminating processes are devel-oped, this product will be substantiallylimited in metal roofing applications.
Joining the panels to extend their lengthnot only increases material and labor
costs, it also provides opportunities forwater penetration and corrosion. The"galvalum" coating is cut away every-where the panel is modified. This exposethe steel of the standing seam panel tothe marine environment. Therefore,McElroy, Uni-Solars metal roof supplier,will not warranty the product for marineapplications.
In addition, to match the paint of theexisting structure, McElroy required aminimum order to custom-paint the newroof panels. Therefore, about one-thirdmore roofing panels had to be purchasethan were needed, and this increased thoverall project cost. The extra panelsturned out to be useful, however, sincemany were damaged during transport toHawaii.
The part of the roof to be retrofitted spaa dock area below. This presented staginchallenges for the roofing and electricalcontractors. Along with restricted accessto the military base and the need to takebridge to the site, the location of the roo
added to the complexity and costs of theproject. And the harsh marine environ-ment could have a corrosive effect on tharray and its components.
PV System ConfigurationThe system is rated at 2.175 kW AC(2.8 kW DC). The estimated system out-put is 9,720 kWh per month. The buildinis not independently metered. It is fed bythe Pearl Harbor grid, to which HECO suplies power. The estimated demand of thbuilding is about 12000 kWh per month.The energy generated by the PV systemwill feed but not meet the average loadsof this building.
PV Module Mounting andAttachment DetailsIntegrated connection follows standardmetal seam roof attachment process.Notched PV panels are secured to non-Ppanels with metal fasteners.
design briefs: Ford Island
This illustration shows how the notched BIPV standing-seam componentsoverlap the regular roofing panels.
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22 design briefs: Ford Islan
Junction box at ridge, viewed from below
PIX08478
Junction box at ridge, viewed from above
Additional electrical junction boxes were required overpotted terminals and raceways at the ridge, before the
ridge cap was installed.
Workers install short lapped roofing pans at BIPVmodule sections.
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design briefs: Ford Island 2
The part of the roof containing BIPV spans a dock area, as shown in this illustration.
0 2 5 2 7 2 8 9
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24 design briefs: Western Area Power Administratio
Western Area Power Administration
Elverta Maintenance Facility, Phases I and IIPhase I
Location: Elverta, California
Owner: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Western Area Power Administration
Date Completed: May 1996Architect & Designer: DOE Western Area Power Administration, PowerLight Corporation
System Integrator: PowerLight Corporation
Structural Engineers: DOE Western Area Power Administration
Electrical Engineers: DOE Western Area Power Administration
Tradesmen Required: Roofers, electrical contractors
Applicable Building Codes: Standard California building codes
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: PowerGuard BIPV roof tiles
Size: 40 kW DC
Projected System Electrical Output: 70,000 kWh/year
Gross PV Surface Area: 5,400 ft2
PV Weight: 4 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline silicon
PV Efficiency: 12%
PV Module Manufacturer: Solarex
Inverter Number and Size: 8 inverters, 6 kW each
Inverter Manufacturer: Omnion Corp.
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
PIX0
8451
A 38-kW BIPV system supplements a40-kW system installed in 1996.
Phase I
Phase II
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DescriptionStaff in the Department of EnergysWestern Area Power AdministrationSierra Nevada Region (SNR) have had twomain goals for SNR's photovoltaic (PV)program: (1) promote PV systems as a
renewable energy resource, and (2) doso in a cost-effective manner. In supportof these goals, SNR has incorporatedPV panels into the roofs of buildings inElverta and Folsom, California. The build-ing-integrated systems will repay invest-ments in them by extending roof lives,reducing maintenance costs, generatingelectric power, and reducing the build-ings' cooling requirements.
In Phase I, a 40-kW building-integratedphotovoltaic system was installed at
SNR's Elverta Maintenance Facility. TheSacramento Municipal Utility District(SMUD) funded the PowerLight Corp.PowerGuard system, while Westerncontributed funds equivalent to the costof replacing the facility roof. Funding wasalso provided by the Utility PhotovoltaicGroup (UPVG) through TEAM-UP, withsupport from the U.S. Department ofEnergy.
With a power capacity of 40 kW peak DCand an annual energy output of more
than 70,000 kWh/year, the PV systemshave significant environmental benefits.Phase I prevents the emission of2,300 tons of carbon dioxide, 8.7 tonsof nitrogen oxides and 16.4 tons of sulfurdioxides; these emissions would be theresult if fossil fuels were burned togenerate the same amount of electricity.Because this system is designed to havea life expectancy of 20 years, the cumula-tive benefits for the environment aremany.
Special Design ConsiderationsPowerGuard PV tiles were used to reroofthe building, saving on the cost of con-ventional roofing material. The patentedPowerGuard tiles incorporate high-effi-ciency polycrystalline silicon cells fromSolarex. Site conditions were favorablefor this sytem: 38 latitude; a dry, sunnyclimate throughout most of the year; andno shading. The system features horizon-tal tiles and tiles with an 8 southerly tilt
for greater annual energy production. In
addition to generating clean renewableenergy, the lightweight system providesR10 roof insulation for improved buildingcomfort and membrane protection forextended roof life. Installation took only7 days to complete once the building'sold roof was replaced with a new single-ply membrane roof.
PV System ConfigurationA 40-kW PowerGuard building-integratePV system was installed at the ElvertaMaintenance Facility in Western's SierraNevada Region to function as both a rooand solar electric photovoltaic (PV) poweplant. Phase I modules were installed inparallel strings containing 56 modules pstring (7 series, 8 parallel).
design briefs: Western Area Power Administration 2
A view of the rooftop of the Elverta facility after the PV system installatio
A PowerLight rooftop PV system is installed on Westerns facility inElverta, California.
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PV Module Mounting andAttachment DetailsThe panels are designed to interlockusing a tongue-and-groove assembly.Panels with 3/8-in. concrete topping,instead of PV modules, are set amongthe PV panels to allow working accessthroughout the roof. Along the edgesof the PV array, a steel ribbon links the
modules together, in order to connecteverything structurally.
26 design briefs: Western Area Power Administratio
The temperature curves show how the PV-integrated roof compares with various roofs without solar electricsystems. Roof-integrated PV with integral insulation reduces a buildings heat load as much as 23C. Themeasurements were derived from sensors placed in representative roof specimens.
02527230m
Workers carry PV modules with attached foam backing in preparation forrooftop mounting. Smaller panels with concrete topping were alsoinstalled as a walking surface.
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DescriptionThis 38-kW BIPV system supplements thePhase I system. Both systems completelycover the Elverta roof and are the largestPV application of its kind in the UnitedStates. Phase II is totally funded andowned by Western. The PV systems utilizethin-film amorphous silicon technology.The DC output from the PV modules isconverted to 240 V AC by means of acustom-built 32-kW Trace inverter, andthen stepped up to 480 V, three-phaseAC by a 45-kVA transformer for directconnection to the building's servicepanel. Besides replacing grid power, thePowerlight system protects the roof
membrane, which extends its life. The roofsystem also provides R10 insulation toreduce cooling and heating loads, therebydecreasing energy consumption.
Special Design ConsiderationsThe flush roof design provides excellentinsulation as well as electricity, as shownin the graph comparing roof temperaturedata.
PV System ConfigurationThe Solarex modules were installed in254 parallel strings, with three Solarexmodules in series per string. The modules
produce 43 watts each. The APS modulewere installed in 22 parallel strings with12 modules in series per string. The APSmodules produce 22 watts each.
PV Module Mounting andAttachment DetailsSame as those for Phase I.
design briefs: Western Area Power Administration 2
The illustration shows how the layers in the roofs provide above-averageinsulation as well as a good base for the PowerGuard PV system.
RoofingMembrane
Solar ElectricPanel
StyrofoamInsulation
Substrate Roof Deck 02527234m
Phase IILocation: Elverta, California
Owner: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Western Area Power Administration
Date Completed: June 1998
Architect & Designer: DOE Western Area Power Administration, PowerLight Corporation
System Integrator: PowerLight CorporationStructural Engineers: DOE Western Area Power Administration
Electrical Engineers: DOE Western Area Power Administration
Tradesmen Required: Electrical and building contractors
Applicable Building Codes: Standard California building codes
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: PowerGuard BIPV roof tiles
Size (kWp): 38 kW DC
Projected System Electrical Output: 67,500 kWh/year
Gross PV Surface Area: 9,900 ft2
PV Weight: 5 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Thin-film amorphous silicon
PV Efficiency: 4%-5%
PV Module Manufacturer: Solarex (762 modules) and APS (264 modules)
Inverter Number and Size: One 32-kW AC
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Trace Technologies
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
Phase I
Phase II
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28 design briefs: Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facilit
Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facility
Location: Fairfield, California
Owner: BP Solar
Date Completed: 1993
Architect & Designer: Kiss Cathcart Anders, Architects
Structural Engineers: Ove Arup & Partners
Electrical Engineers: Ove Arup & PartnersTradesmen Required: Glaziers, electricians
Applicable Building Codes: BOCA and California Title 24
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: Glass laminates as curtain wall spandrel, skylight, and awning
Size: 9.5 kWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 7.9 kW
Gross PV Surface Area: 1,975 ft2
PV Weight: 3 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Amorphous silicon
PV Efficiency: 5%
PV Module Manufacturer: APS
Inverter Number and Size: 6 kW
Inverter Manufacturer: Omnion Corporation
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
Views looking north (top) and south show how BIPV is integrated into both the facade and thecanopy that runs the length of the building.
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DescriptionCompleted in 1993, this 69,000-ft2 manu-facturing facility houses a new generationof production lines tailored to thin-film
PV technology. The building also incorpo-rates into its design several applicationsof thin-film solar modules that are proto-types of BIPV products.
The heart of the project is a 22.5-ft-highBIPV glass cube containing the factoryscontrol center and visitor facilities. Thiscube is perched on the second floor, andhalf of it is outside of the manufacturingbuilding, emphasizing its status as anindependent element and a prototype
that demonstrates BIPV in a typical commercial building. The cubes PV claddingthe solar entrance canopy, and the translucent BIPV skylight provide more thanenough energy to power the controlcenters lighting and air-conditioning
systems.The production floor and warehousespace are housed in a tilted-up concreteshell with a steel intermediate structureand a timber roof. Glass blocks embeddeas large-scale "aggregate" in the outsidwalls provide a pattern of light in the interior during the day and on the exterior atnight. Mechanical service elements arecontained in a low, steel-framed structuron the north side of the building. Theentry court is paved in a pattern of tintedconcrete and uplighting that representsan abstracted diagram of solar energygeneration.
Special Design ConsiderationIn addition to providing a working produdevelopment test bed for BIPV systems,the project serves an educational functiofor public and private groups. Thelobby/reception area provides displayspace for products and research. A pat-tern cast into the paving in front of themain entry combines a sun path diagram
with a representation of the photovoltaieffect at the atomic level. The controlroom/cube also serves an educational
design briefs: Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facility 2
Interior view shows how BIPV isused with vertical and slopedglazing.
PIX08447
This office interior view demonstrates the quality of light transmittedby the approximately 5% translucent BIPV panel skylight.
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30 design briefs: Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facili
Sectionalviewshows
officecubeandfactory.
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32 design briefs: Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facili
02527208m
Sectional view indicates skylight configuration and curtain-wall facade.
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function; a raised platform allows groupsof visitors to view the control equipment,and beyond it, the production line.Computerized monitoring equipment dis-plays the status of the PV systems as wellas information regarding building HVAC
and lighting energy use, exterior ambientconditions, insolation, and other data.
Wherever possible, the PV systems aredesigned to do double duty in terms ofenergy management by reducing heatgain while providing power. The curtainwall and skylight are vented, eliminatingradiant heat gain from the modules andenhancing natural ventilation in the cube.The awning is designed to shade the rowof south-facing windows that open intothe production area and employeelounge. The cube curtain wall integratesPV modules with vision glass in astandard pressure plate curtain wallframing system, modified to be self-ventilating. The system is intended tobe economical and adaptable to newconstruction or retrofit.
PV System ConfigurationThe PV module is a nominal 2.5 ft x 5.0 ft,a-Si thin-film device rated at 50 Wp stabi-lized. The PV system contains 84 full-sizemodules mounted on the awning, 91 mod-ules installed in the curtain wall, and 8 in
a skylight. The curtain wall modules areinstalled in custom sizes as required byarchitectural conditions. The system hasa total capacity of 7.9 kW; because of thevarying orientations of the modules, thepeak output is 5 kW. Despite the hot localclimate, the power consumed by the cubefor cooling and lighting never exceeds3.5 kW, producing a surplus of PV powerwhich is directed into the main buildinggrid.
PV Module Mounting and
Attachment DetailsStandard PV modules are 31 in. x 61 in.but can be produced in custom sizes asrequired to fit the framing requirements ofthe curtain wall. One unique feature isthat the modules are glass-to glass lami-
nated products. The modules are installwith an insulated inner liner, which forma plenum for ventilation. Heat radiatedinto the curtain wall plenum is vented tothe outside by natural convection throuholes drilled in the horizontal mullions.
some cases, the hollow vertical mullionare used as ducts to direct the warm airupward.
The skylight panels are standard modulthat transmit approximately 5% of thesunlight through the laser scribe lines.The PV modules are supplemented byclear glazing units to increase light transmission. Another unique feature of thisBIPV system is that the skylight is venteto remove heat gain from the modules.
The awning panels are bolted through t
steel tube awning structure to aluminumchannels epoxied to the encapsulatingglass. This is the attachment used in typcal field-mounted arrays.
design briefs: Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facility 3
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34 design briefs:Yosemite Transit Shelt
Yosemite Transit Shelters
The transit shelter prototype makes use of both high-tech and low-tech materials, combininglocally forested lumber with BIPV panels.
02527238m
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Owner: U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service
Date Completed: Scheduled for system completion in 2001
Architect & Designer: Kiss + Cathcart, Architects
Structural Engineers: Ove Arup & Partners, Structural Engineers
Electrical Engineers: None; design overview provided by inverter manufacturerTradesmen Required: Standard Contractor/Carpenter and Electrician
Applicable Building Codes: National Park Service, self-regulating
Applicable Electrical Codes: National Park Service, self-regulating
PV Product: Amorphous silicon glass panels
Size: 560 Wp per transit shelter
Projected System Electrical Output: 1.15 MWh/yr
Gross PV Surface Area: 112 ft2
PV Weight: 3.375 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Amorphous silicon
PV Efficiency: 6%
PV Module Manufacturer: Energy Photovoltaics, Inc.
Inverter Numbers and Size: 1 kW
Inverter Manufacturer: Advanced Energy Systems
Interconnection: OptionalGrid-Connected or Stand-Alone
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DescriptionYosemite National Park is one of the mosttreasured environments in the UnitedStates and also the site of serious vehic-ular traffic congestion. The National ParkService is working to reduce traffic and
pollution in Yosemite by expanding theshuttle bus service and introducing elec-tric shuttle buses. This necessitates aninfrastructure of combined weather shel-ters and information boards at the newshuttle stops.
Funded by DOE FEMP, Kiss + Cathcart,Architects, is under contract to NREL todesign a prototypical bus shelter incorpo-rating BIPV panels. The park will begininstalling the first of 19 new shuttle stopsin the summer of 2000. The shelters that
are near existing electrical lines will sendthe power they generate into the utilitygrid system serving Yosemite; the moreremote shelters will have battery storagefor self-sufficient night lighting.
Special Design ConsiderationsThe design mandate for this project is tobalance a sense of the rustic historicalbuilding style of the Yosemite Valley withthe frankly technological appearance ofBIPV systems. The overall structure isa composite of heavy timber and steel
plates that serves two purposes: accom-modating heavy snow loads with mini-mum structural bulk and projecting anappearance that is rustic from a distancebut clearly modern in a close-up view.The structural timbers (unmilled logsfrom locally harvested cedar) are splitin half, and the space between them isused for steel connections, wiring, andmounting signage. The BIPV roof struc-ture is made of a single log cut into eightseparate boards.
A shallow (10) tilt was chosen for the PVroof. A latitude tilt of approximately 37would provide the maximum annual out-put in an unobstructed site; however, ashallower angle is better suited to
Yosemite because of the considerableshading that occurs at low sun angles inthe valleys, especially in winter. A steeperslope would also have made the shuttlestop much taller, significantly increasingstructural loading and demanding a heav-ier structure. This was determined to be
undesirable in terms of both appearanceand material use.
PV System ConfigurationFourteen semitransparent, 40-W thin-filmmodules make up the PV system for eachshelter. Power is fed to a single inverter.Some systems will be grid-connected andsome will be stand-alone with batteriesfor backup.
PV Module Mounting andAttachment DetailsThe PV roof of the shelter is not designedto be watertight like the roof of anenclosed building. Instead, it is designedto be waterproof so that water does notdrip through the roof in normal weather
conditions. Therefore, the PV modules areoverlapped (shingled) slightly along thecenter seam, and sheet metal gutters areinserted at the seam between the roughwood rafters and the modules.
design briefs:Yosemite Transit Shelter 3
Yosemite National Park
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36 design briefs: Sun Microsystems Clock Tow
Sun Microsystems Clock Tower
North-facing view ofthe clock tower at SunMicrosystems facility.
Location: Burlington, Massachusetts
Owner: Sun Microsystems
Date Completed: October 1998
Architect & Designer: HOK Architects and ASE Americas, Inc.
Structural Engineers: Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
Electrical Engineers: Enertech EngineeringTradesman Required: Glaziers, electricians
Applicable Building Codes: Uniform Building Code
Applicable Electrical Codes: National Electric Code Section 620
PV Product: BIPV curtain wall
Size: 2.5 kWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 2.5 kWp
Gross PV Surface Area: 827 ft2
PV Weight: 8.3 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline silicon manufactured by ASE Americas, Inc.
PV Efficiency: 12.8%
PV Module Manufacturer: Pilkington Solar International
Inverter Number and Size: One 2.5 kWp inverter
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Omnion Power Corp.
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
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DescriptionASE Americas recently provided the
design, PV panels, and electronic equip-ment needed to power an 85-ft high clocktower on Sun Microsystems' new 1 millionft2 campus in Burlington, Massachusetts.The architects who designed the buildingincluded both electrically active and elec-trically inactive glass panels on four sidesof the tower. The electrically active panelsincorporating PV modules were used onthe east and west sides. A diffuse lightpattern washes around the edges of thesolar cells in the inside of the tower tocreate a soft look in the interior. The clock
tower load is primarily a nighttime load.Energy from the PV array goes into thebuilding by day, and the clock towerdraws power at night from the building'selectrical grid. This could be the first useof dual-glazed, thermally insulated PVpanels in a U.S. building structure.
Special Design ConsiderationsThe PV panels were custom designed to
match the dimensions of the KawneerSeries 1600 mullion system used on thefour sides of the clock tower. They werefabricated as dual-glazed, thermallyinsulating panels with a glass-cell-glasslaminate as the outer surface and afrosted glass sheet as the inner surface.Some of the panels were required to wraparound the clock, so three different basicshapes were designed with round cuspscut out of the corners to match the curva-ture of the round, 7.5-ft-diameter clock.Two rectangular shapes were required so
the panels were vertically arranged tomatch the floor levels.
PV System ConfigurationThe PV modules are connected in seriesand feed electricity into an inverter thatconverts the 2.5 kW DC power to AC.
PV Module Mounting andAttachment Details
Eight electrically active panels were fulywired and interconnected through aninverter and transformer into the buildinwiring as a utility-interactive system.These systems are the simplest and moseconomical way to install a PV powersource. There are no batteries in this typof system, since the system draws powefrom the building's electrical grid.
design briefs: Sun Microsystems Clock Tower 3
Pilkington Solar Internationalsproject leader, John Goldsmith, isshown with the integrated curtainwall on the south and west facesof the clock tower.
East view of the clock tower shows BIPV installation.
ASE
Americas,
Inc./
PIX07042
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38 design briefs: State University of New York, Alban
State University of New York, Albany
Looking southeastat the Center forEnvironmentalSciences andTechnologyManagement
Location: Albany, New York
Owner: State University of New York, Albany
Date Completed: Summer 1996
Architect: Cannon Architects
Electrical Engineer: Cannon Architects
Solar Consultant: Solar Design Associates, Inc.Tradesmen Required: Beacon Sales Corporation, roofing contractors
Applicable building codes: New York State Building Code and ANSI Z97.1
Applicable electrical codes: National Electric Code
PV product: Kawneer 1600 PowerWall
Size: 15 kWp
Project System Electrical Output: 19,710 kWh / yr.
Gross PV Surface Area: 1,500 ft2
PV Weight: 1.93 lb / ft2
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline silicon
PV Cell Efficiency: 12%
PV Module Manufacturer: Solarex
Inverter Number and Size: AES 250 watt
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Advanced Energy Systems Micro Inverter
Interconnection: Utility-Grid Connected
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DescriptionFor the new Center for EnvironmentalSciences and Technology Management(CESTM) at the State University of New
York in Albany, Cannon Architects devel-oped an energy-conscious design strat-
egy. This strategy included the integrationof solar electric systems into both thebuilding and the project site as landscapeelements. The building incorporates15 kWp of custom PV modules in building-integrated sunshades that support thePV modules while reducing cooling loadsand glare on the south facade. The PVmodules feature module-integratedinverters.
Special Design ConsiderationsThis system was the first of its kind in theUnited States to tie together more than2 kW of AC modules, and the first to usethe AC module platform for a sunshade.AC modules proved to be far more effec-tive than a typical single inverter, giventhe different light levels on the modulesover the course of a day.
PV System ConfigurationThere are two different system configura-tions in the CESTM solar system. Thesunshade portion consists of 59 pairs of
framed Solarex MSX 120 modules. Eachpair is connected to its own accessible ACmicro-inverter. The inverters are installedinside the building for ease of service. Thelandscape portion consists of 18 pairs ofSolarex MSX 240 modules. An AC micro-inverter is attached to the underside ofeach pair.
PV Mounting and AttachmentDetailsSolarex provided framed PV modules thatwere modified to incorporate the AES
micro-inverters. Most of the moduleswere mounted in an aluminum strut,creating a solar sunshade. The rest of themodules were mounted above ground,along a curved pathway at the mainapproach to the building. The buildingssunshades use standard extrusions fromthe Kawneer curtain wall system, theKawneer 1600 PowerWallTM. This customconfiguration provided structural supportto the modules.
design briefs: State University of New York, Albany 3
Close-up view of photovoltaic sunshade
GordonSchenck/PIX08464
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40 design briefs: Navajo Nation Outdoor Solar Classroo
Navajo Nation Outdoor Solar Classroom
Each new BIPV structure at the Seba Dalkai School will serve as an open-air classroomsupported by timber columns in a concrete foundation.
Location: Seba Dalkai, Navajo Reservation, Arizona
Owner: Seba Dalkai Boarding School
Scheduled Completion Date: Fall 1999
Architect: Kiss + Cathcart, Architects
Electrical Engineer: Energy Photovoltaics, Inc.
Solar Consultant: Kiss + Cathcart, ArchitectsTradesmen Required: Electricians, laborers
Applicable Building Codes: Standard building codes
Applicable Electrical Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: Energy Photovoltaics EPV-40 modules
Size: 4.0 kWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 5,818 kWh/yr
Gross PV Surface Area: 625 ft2
PV Weight: 3.75 lb/ft2
PV Type: Amorphous silicon
PV Efficiency: 6%
PV Module Manufacturer: Energy Photovoltaics, Inc.
Inverter Number and Size: Four 2.5 kW inverters
Inverter Manufacturer: Trace Engineering
Interonnection: Stand-Alone System
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DescriptionThe Seba Dalkai Boarding School, aBureau of Indian Affairs school on theNavajo Reservation in Arizona, is con-structing a new K-8 facility to be com-pleted in 2001. Funded by DOE FEMP, thisfacility will incorporate a BIPV systemcapable of producing approximately4.0 kW of electricity.
The school is currently housed in atraditional hogan and in a stone facilitybuilt in the 1930s. These will remain andbe juxtaposed with a new school facility.The photovoltaic component of thisproject will mediate between the old andthe new, and it will add a structure thatclearly expresses solar technology andBIPV principles. Funded by DOE FEMP,this structure will serve as an outdoor
classroom and as part of the schoolsHVAC circulation system. It will also be ahands-on laboratory for educating peopleabout BIPV systems and training them insystem installation.
Special Design ConsiderationsThe installation is designed to minimizethe cost of the support structure whileincorporating sustainable constructionmaterials. Within an enforced simplicity,the design attempts to establish a con-nection with Navajo building traditions.
PV System ConfigurationThe design includes two 25-ft x 25-ft,open-sided, timber-framed structures.Each one supports 2.88 kW of semitrans-parent PV modules, and each oneincludes two Trace 2.5-kW inverters plusbatteries for three days worth of energystorage. Each structure will function as anopen-air classroom.
PV Mounting and AttachmentDetailsThe PV modules are attached with alu-minum extrusions fixed with silicone tothe back of the glass (four per module).Each aluminum channel is 12 ft long. The
channels are supported on a grid of rougtimber beams, which in turn are sup-ported by timber columns on concretefoundations.
design briefs: Navajo Nation Outdoor Solar Classroom
The design attempts to establish a connection with Navajo building traditions.
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42 design briefs: General Services Administration, Williams Buildin
General Services Administration, Williams Buildin
The nine-story Williams Building in Boston(at right in photo above) has a new BIPV roof(bottom, lower right photo) rather than aconventional one.
Location: 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts
Owner: U.S. General Services Administration
Date Completed: September 30, 1999
Project Developers: Enron Energy Services and U.S. General Services Administration
Electrical Engineer: PowerLight Co.
Solar Consultant: PowerLight Co.Tradesmen Required: Electricians and roofers
Applicable Building Codes: Standard building codes
Applicable Electrical Codes: National Electric Code, Boston Electric Interconnection Guidelines, and IEEESpecifications
PV Product: PowerLight, using ASE Americas, Inc., solar panels
System Size: 37 kW DC, 28 kW AC
Projected System Electrical Output: 50,000 kWh/yr
Gross PV Surface Area: Approx. 3,800 ft2
PV Weight: 4 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Amorphous silicon
PV Efficiency: 12%PV Module Manufacturer: ASE Americas, Inc.
Inverter Number and Size: 1 30 kVa
Inverter Manufacturer: Trace Engineering
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
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DescriptionIn this project, a regularly scheduled roofreplacement was upgraded to the installa-tion of a building-integrated photovoltaicroof. The BIPV roof is installed on theWilliams Building in downtown Boston.
The U.S. Coast Guard is the leading tenantof this 160,000-ft2 building, which sits onRowes Wharf at 408 Atlantic Avenue, nearthe citys financial district.
In addition to the new PV system for theroof, the building is also switching fromdistrict steam to on-site gas boilers. Two75-kW Teco-gen co-generation units arealso being added, as well as a high-efficiency chiller, more efficient lighting,and upgraded, more efficient motors.
Special Design ConsiderationsThe building is located on a wharf, so thedesign must take into account not onlythe water but also 140-mile-per-hour windconditions at the site.
After a site review, including a review ofthe wind conditions, the contractordecided to use a PowerLight RT photo-voltaic system. The RT system was chosenfor its cost-effectiveness when extremeroof penetrations are required (for exam-ple, with penthouses, skylights, and HVACframes).
PV System ConfigurationThis system produces 37 kWp DC and28 kW AC. Its 372 PV panels are con-nected in sets of 12. Each panel has a
maximum output of 100 watts.
PV Mounting and AttachmentDetailsA metal raceway, ballast, and anchoringsystem is used. It was also necessary toadd rigid insulation for thermal protectio
The PowerLight RT system is fastened tothe roof along its perimeter using epoxyembedded anchors set into the concretedeck. These use pitch pans and a racewafor moisture protection. The systemallows water to flow under thePowerGuard to existing roof drains. Itshould not be necessary to add newdrains.
A harness from the panels goes throughtwo conduits into attic space locatedabove the eighth floor. Part of the attic
needed additional metal decking.
design briefs: General Services Administration, Williams Building 4
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PIX08471
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View of the new BIPV roof onthe Williams Building, duringand after construction
Pavers are in foreground, PV array is in background onthe rooftop.
Wiring for the rooftop installation
Paul King, DOE Boston Regional Office FEMPliaison, surveys the installation work.
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44 design briefs: General Services Administration, Williams Buildin
The plan for the roof of the Williams Building included a rooftop BIPV system consisting of 372 solar panels.
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Co-funded by the DOE FEMP Renewable EnergyProgram, this BIPV application illustrates how thetechnology can be introduced into complex roof spaces.
JeffAnsley,P
owerLightCorporation/PIX08461
Shading from other buildings is not a problem at thissite, which is in urban Boston.
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design briefs:Academy of Further Education 4
Academy of Further Education
The Academy of Further Education under construction in Herne, Germany
Location: Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Owner: EMC, Ministry of Interiors of North Rhine-Westphalia, City of Herne
Date Completed: May 1999
Architect & Designer: Jourda et Perraudin Architects, HHS Architects
Structural Engineers: Schleich, Bergermann and Partner
Electrical Engineers: HL-TechnikTradesmen Required: Glaziers, electricians
PV Product: BIPV roof
Size: 1 MWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 750,000 kWh/yr
Gross PV Surface Area: 10,000 m2
PV Weight: 130 kg per each 3.2 m2 module
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon
PV Efficiency: 12.8% to 16%
PV Module Manufacturer: Pilkington Solar International, Cologne
Inverter Number and Size: 600, 1.5 kW
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: SMA, Kassel
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
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DescriptionAs part of the International ConstructionExhibition, Emscher Park, the site of a for-mer coal mine in Herne, Germany, is beingused for a new purpose. A comprehensiveurban development plan is providing the
district of Sodingen with a new center-piece: the Academy of Further Education,Ministry of Interior, North Rhine-Westphalia.
The large glass hall incorporates not onlythe Academy but also a hotel, library, andadministrative municipal offices. Theglass hall is multifunctional. It protectsthe interior from harsh weather and usessolar energy both actively and passivelyby producing heat as well as electricpower.
Special Design ConsiderationsApproximately 3,180 multifunctional roofand facade elements are the core of thesolar power plant. With a total area of10,000 square meters, most of the roofand the southwest facade is covered byphotovoltaics, making this system thelargest building-integrated PV powerplant in the world. It produces approxi-mately 750,000 kWh of electric powerper year. This is enough to supply morethan 200 private residences. About
200,000 kWh is used directly by theAcademy building, and the remaining550,000 kWh is fed into the public powergrid in Herne.
PV System ConfigurationThe Optisol photovoltaic elements wereproduced by Pilkington Solar at a site inGermany. The PV system consists of solarcells embedded between glass panes.Daylighting needs were taken intoaccount in designing the roof- and facade-integrated system. The PV modules have
areas of 2.5 to 3.2 square meters and anoutput of 192 to 416 peak watts each. Thismakes them larger and more powerfulthan most conventional solar modules.
Direct-current electricity is converted to230 V alternating current by means ofa modular inverter. This is made up ofroughly 600 decentralized string invertersand allows optimal use of the incidentsolar radiation.
Mounting and AttachmentDetailsThe building-integrated photovoltaicpanels are set into aluminum mullionslike skylights. The rooftop panels arepositioned at an angle to capture as muchof the incident sunlight as possible.
46 design briefs:Academy of Further Educatio
An inside view of the Academy building as construction progressed
This photo shows how the PV panels are angled to capture the sunlightshining on the roof.
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design briefs:Academy of Further Education 4
Rooftop view shows placement of insulation and PV panels.
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48 design briefs: Discovery Science Cente
Discovery Science Center
Architects renderinof the DiscoveryScience Center Cubein Santa Ana,California
Location: Santa Ana, California
Scheduled Completion Date: November 1999
Architect & Designer: Arquitectonica for the cube, Solar Design Associates for the PV system
Structural Engineers: Advanced Structures, Inc.
Electrical Engineers: Solar Design Associates, Inc.
Tradesmen Required: ElectriciansApplicable Building Codes: Building Administrators Code Administrators International (BOCA)
Applicable Electrical Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: Thin-film photovoltaic system
Size: 20 kWp
Projected System Electrical Output: 30,000 kWh/yr
Gross PV Surface Area: 4,334 ft2
PV Weight: 3 lb/ ft2
PV Cell Type: Thin-film technology
PV Efficiency (%): 5.1 %
PV Module Manufacturer: BP Solarex
Inverter Number and Size: 4
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Omnion 2400, Model 5015
Interconnection: Utility Grid-Connected
SolarDesignAssociates,
Inc./
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DescriptionThis solar electric system, located inSanta Ana, California, boasts one of theworld's largest building-integrated thin-film applications to date. The PV-coveredsurface of the cube is tilted at 50 for
maximum visual impact and optimal solarharvest. BP Solarex's Millennia modulescover the entire 4,334-ft2 top of the cubeThe thin-film modules are treated as an
architectural glazing element, replacingwhat would have been a glass canopy.They produce up to 20 kW of DC electricityat mid-day and 30,000 kWh of electricalenergy per year, which is enough to runfour typical homes.
The solar energy system is connectedto the Discovery Science Center's mainutility line. When the solar system pro-duces energy, it feeds the energy to the
Science Center, displacing conventionalutility power. When the solar systemproduces more electricity than theScience Center needs, the excess elec-tricity is "exported" to the utility, therebeffectively spinning the electric meter
backwards.
design briefs: Discovery Science Center 4
The view from inside the cube
SolarDesignAss
ociates,
Inc./
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50 design briefs: Solar Sunflowe
Solar Sunflowers
These Solar Sunflowerstrack the sun to produceelectricity.
Location: Napa, California
Date Completed: N/A
Architect & Designer: Solar Design Associates, Inc.
Structural Engineers: Solar Design Associates, Inc.
Electrical Engineers: Solar Design Associates, Inc.
Tradesmen Required: ElectriciansApplicable Building Codes: Building Officials Code Administrators International (BOCA)
Applicable Electrical Codes: National Electric Code
PV Product: BP Solarex
Size: 36,000 Wp
Projected System Electrical Output: N/A
Gross PV Surface Area: 3,456 ft2
PV Weight: 3.4 lb/ ft2
PV Cell Type: Polycrystalline
PV Efficiency: 11.1%
PV Module Manufacturer: BP Solarex
Inverter Number and Size: 6
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: Omnion Series 2400, Model 6018
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
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DescriptionNestled atop a hillside in NorthernCalifornia, 36 Solar Electric Sunflowersrepresent an elegant combination of artand technology. The clients requested anunconventional and artistic installation.
They got just that.
Just like a sunflower, the Solar ElectricSunflowers look and act like nature's ownvariety. Making use of a two-axis trackingsystem, the sunflowers wake up to followthe sun's path throughout the day,enabling the system to produce enough
energy for eight to ten homes.
design briefs: Solar Sunflowers
Solar electric sunflowers resemble natures own.
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52 design briefs: Ijsselstein Row House
Ijsselstein Row Houses
Fourteen planned new row-house units in the Netherlands demonstrate the aesthetic use ofbuilding-integrated photovoltaics: front (above) and back views.
Location: Ijsselstein Zenderpark, Ijsselstein, The Netherlands
Date Completed: Scheduled for completion in late 2000
Architect & Designer: Han Van Zwieten, Van Straalen Architecten, co-designer; Gregory Kiss, Kiss + CathcaArchitects, co-designer
Structural Engineers: N/A
Electrical Engineers: N/A
Tradesmen Required: Building tradesmen
Applicable Building Codes: Dutch Building Code
Applicable Electrical Codes: Dutch Electrical Code
PV Product: Standard-size BIPV glass laminate panels
Size: 1.6 kWp per housing unit
Projected System Electrical Output: 1150 kWh/year per housing unit
Gross PV Surface Area: 30 m2 per housing unit
PV Weight: 3.75 lb/ft2
PV Cell Type: Amorphous silicon, both opaque and 15% translucent
PV Efficiency: 6%
PV Module Manufacturer: EPVInverter Number and Size: N/A
Inverter Manufacturer and Model: N/A
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
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DescriptionThis Dutch-American design collaborationis intended to develop a new standard inEurope for moderately priced housingwith integrated solar electric systems. Thefirst phase consists of 14 row-house units,each with its own grid-connected BIPVarray. As part of a highly ordered "newtown" development adjacent to the city
center of Ijsselstein, these units conformto strict space and budget guidelinesas well as to advanced standards of PVintegration.
The overall design is a composition ofbrick volumes and two-level, wood-framed sunrooms. The latter are partiallyclad in opaque and translucent PV units,and they are raised and staggered tomaximize solar exposure. The sunroomvolumes are wood-paneled on the sidesfacing north.
The Netherlands is home to some of themost advanced PV systems in the world.However, before this project began, littlework had been done on integrating solararrays into the prevailing Dutch architec-tural idiom of abstract cubic forms. TheIjsselstein row houses demonstrate howphotovoltaics can be a fully participatingelement in the design, rather than justan applied system. Amorphous siliconmodules in particular are generating very
positive responses among many Dutcharchitects, who perceive them as lookingmuch more like an architectural materialthan polycrystalline panels do.
Special Design ConsiderationsIn marked contrast to the United States,The Netherlands favors residential designthat is largely modern and rational in
character. The ubiquitous pitched roofsof North American houses (which provideconvenient mounting surfaces for PVarrays) were considered aestheticallyundesirable at Ijsselstein. However, athigher latitudes with low sun angles, ver-tically mounted BIPV panels can generatepower at output levels competitive withthose of optimally angled panels. Thedesign takes advantage of this by usingstandard-sized units as glazing andexterior enclosure combined in a simplewooden frame wall.
Extensive computer modeling studieswere done to ensure that the complexmassing of the row houses works to pro-vide maximum solar exposure for eachunits array and minimum shadowing ofBIPV surfaces by adjacent units.
Given that BIPV glass is a major claddingcomponent for the sunroom elements,excessive interior heat loss or gain wasa significant design consideration. Theadjacent stair serves as a convection
chimney that actually uses the heatedair produced in the sunrooms to draw aircurrents through the entire row house,cooling it in warm weather. Cold weatheconditions are addressed simply byproviding a suitable layer of insulationbetween the cladding and the interiorfinish.
PV System ConfigurationA 1.6-kW, grid-connected BIPV system ispart of each row house. Each system wilbe individually metered, and there is nobattery storage.
PV Module Mounting andAttachment DetailsStandard PV modules are set into a woodframing system, which can be either sitebuilt or prefabricated. The opaque unitsare set as typical single glazing, usingminimum-profile glazing stops and caulk
The translucent panels are incorporatedinto double-glazed window units. Thehorizontal members of the wood framehave an absolute minimum exposeddepth to prevent shadowing. The verticamembers, which are not as likely to interfere with solar exposure, have a raisedprofile.
design briefs: Ijsselstein Row Houses 5
M.K.M
.K.
rooster
Sample floorplans for row-house units
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54 design briefs: Denver Federal Courthous
Denver Federal Courthouse
The U.S. Court House expansion in Denver will be a showcase for sustainable building design.
Location: Denver, Colorado
Owner: U.S. General Services Administration
Date Completed: Scheduled for completion in 2002
Architect & Designer: Anderson Mason Dale (Architects); Hellmuth, Obata, & Kassabaum, St. Louis(Designers); Architectural Energy Corporation (Energy Consultants)
System Integration: Altair Energy (PV Consultant)
Structural Engineers: Martin/Martin, Inc.
Electrical Engineers: The RMH Group, Inc.
Tradesman Required: Building tradesmen/glaziers
Applicable Building Codes: Uniform Building Code (1997)
Applicable Electric Codes: National Electric Code (1999)
PV Product: Custom-sized BIPV glass laminate
Size: 15 kWp (roof); 3.4 kWp (skylight)
Projected System Electrical Output: 20,150 kWh per year (roof); 4,700 kWh per year (skylight)
Gross PV Surface Area: 172 m2 (roof); 59 m2 (skylight)
PV Module Weight: 4,661 kg (roof); 2,749 kg (skylight)
PV Cell Type: Single- or polycrystalline siliconPV Efficiency: 10% or greater
PV Module Manufacturer: Pilkington Solar
Inverter Number & Size: One 20-kW and one 3.4-kW inverter
Suggested Inverter Manufacturers: Trace Technologies, Trace Engineering, Omnion
Interconnection: Utility-Grid-Connected
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DescriptionThe United States Courthouse Expansionin Denver, Colorado, consists of 17 newcourtrooms and associated supportspaces for an additional 383,000 ft2
(35,600 m2). The U.S. General ServicesAdministration (GSA) approached theexpansion of this Federal Courthouse indowntown Denver as a showcase buildingfor sustainable design. One of the GSAsproject goals was to "use the latest avail-
able proven technologies for environmen-tally sensitive design, construction, andoperation. It should set a standard and bea model of sustainable design." Anothergoal was to create a building that wouldremain usable for its 100-year lifespan.
The design projects an image of respectand reflects the citys rich architecturalheritage. The 11-story structure housessix floors of district courts, two floors ofmagistrate courts, offices for the UnitedStates Marshal, a jury assembly area,
and a special proceedings courtroom.Anderson Mason Dale P.C. is the architectof record, and HOK served as the designarchitect.
Recalling a traditional town squarecourthouse, the two-story pavilion is anarrangement of two geometric formsunder a large horizontal roof. It is thefrontispiece of the entire composition.An open peristyle colonnade supportsthe roof and transparently encloses the
entrance lobby and the drum-shapedsecured lobby. As a series of verticallyoriented rectangular planes, the
courthouse tower caps the structurewith an open fra