Five architects—four from Chicago area and one from New York City—won a national design competition for a proposed Sun Wall solar installation at the Energy Department’s headquarters building in Washington, DC. This is the first step for the department’s headquarters to become the largest federal government building’s solar energy system in the country. Once installed, the system could generate as much as 200 kilowatts of electric power, enough energy for more than 60 homes.
Winners of the design competition are Martin Wolf, FAIA; Mark Frisch, AIA; Devon Patterson, AIA; and Duane Carter of Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates, Chicago; and Mahadev Raman & David M.Scott of Ove Arup & Partners, New York City.
Designs for the 32,100 sq.ft. area were judged on esthetics, energy production and cost-effectiveness. The winning entry combines electricity-generating panels with a solar thermal installation to provide for the efficient heating of water for use in the building. The design provides a shaded interior space, which allows a view of the high-tech solar wall from the backside. Further details are available at www.energy.gov.
