The Thin Black Line

On the Edwards Lifesciences campus in Irvine, California, a faint black outline contrasts against the silver, knife-edge canopies that mark the entrances to several buildings. Small but noticeable photovoltaic panels peek out over the rooftops, a subtle reminder of a campus-wide PV system totaling 2.25 mW, one of the largest customer-owned solar installations in the state.

Early in the design process, Edwards leaders challenged teams to “show the PV” and make the renewable energy systems a visible, integral part of the campus. They wanted people to see the sustainability strategies in action and make the solar infrastructure part of the design language. Throughout the campus, solar panels are woven into the design, including on shade structures. But making solar panels observable from below the entries posed a more complex challenge. Extending the panels over the edge of the canopy would make them visible, but brittle solar panels are not designed to cantilever. Exposed panels would be vulnerable to wind forces and risk cracking and deterioration.

Structural and electrical engineers came together to carefully study options that would maintain the canopy’s aesthetics and maximize solar exposure, without adding significant cost. Panels were tested and analyzed for wind loads and tolerances. After considering and testing several concepts, the engineers devised a backbone to connect the PV to the structure and make the visual statement possible. Concealed supports tie panels to the canopy while preserving the floating appearance. The apparatus is completely hidden from the public. But the thin layer of solar panels that appear to float above the canopy provides a distinctive feature to the buildings, while helping the company achieve its energy goals.