General information Location: Santa Ana, California, USA Sunshine hours (yearly average): - Type of project: Commercial Type of application: BIPV Time for design process: 6 months, design and approvals Time for construction: 1 month for the Cube structure, 3 weeks for the solar system. Realization: - [ Top ] Description The architects had conceived of the Cube as the Discovery Center’s icon. In keeping with their mission to make science an exciting, hands-on experience for the general public, the Discovery Center approached Solar Design to make the Cube itself an applied science exhibit, as well as their icon, by cladding the south face with PV. The Cube is located on Main Street in Santa Ana, California, capturing public interest with a highly visible display of renewable energy in use at the Discovery Science Center. Aside from the seismic issues dealt with during the design phase, mounting the prefabricated panels onto the frame of the Cube posed considerable challenges. [ Top ] System characteristics PV system power: [-] kW Type of building integration: - Type of cell technology: BP MST-43 tandem junction, amorphous-silicon thin-film Module dimensions: - Array dimensions: - Inverters: Omnion utility interconnected PV inverter [ Top ] Project cost breakdown Financial information withheld by owner’s request. [ Top ] Performance characteristics The solar system is performing exactly as intended. [ Top ] Project team The Solar Cube is a good example of Solar Design Associates’ custom architectural integration of photovoltaics. The firm was responsible for the entire project on a turn-key basis from design, engineering and construction documents to permits and approvals, procurement, construction and system commissioning. The project is the first commercial application of Building-integrated Photovoltaics fielded with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). SDA retained United Power, LTD of Vancouver, BC to manage construction. United’s President, George Ingham, worked closely with IBEW Local #441 to select a motivated crew and get the job done. Client: Discovery Science Center Project architects: Arquitectonica, Miami & New York Engineers: Solar Design Associates Contractor: United Power, LTD of Vancouver, BC PV manufacture: BP Solar [ Top ]