Project Name:

HELD RESIDENCE SOLAR ARBOR

Program:

New shade structure for tennis court with integrated photovoltaic panels.

Description:

Interested in building a shade structure for his tennis court’s viewing area that could also serve as an armature for solar PV panels, our client asked us to look at both “utilitarian” options of his own design, as well as “creative” options of our choosing.

Multiple design options were studied using 3D modeling software, and ultimately our client opted for the most custom version, as well as technologically advanced (and costly) translucent solar panels by Realgoods Solar. The form of the arbor was driven by not only aesthetic considerations, but also the panel module, optimal solar angle, and the County’s strict height limit for accessory structures.

Project Location:

San Jose, California

Client Name:

Jerry Held

Completion Date:

2010

Construction Cost:

$40,000 (structure only)

Project Team:

Architect: Studio S Squared Architecture, Inc.; Eugene H. Sakai, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Catherine Gutierrez, Assoc. AIA

Structural Engineer: BCA Structural Engineers, Inc.; Geoffrey Clifford, SE, Principal

Steel Fabricator: SOS Steel; Steve Boucher

Solar Installer: Realgoods Solar; Carol Daly