BIPV Roofing energizes Providence College.
When embarking on a sustainable plan that has
the potential to transform a campus, why not start with a highly visible bang? Providence College
in Providence, R.I.,
recently seized such an opportunity by installing thin-film building integrated
photovoltaics on the roof of the Slavin
Center, the college’s
student center. “The college is in the process of putting together a campus
sustainability plan. This construction project allowed us the opportunity
to take advantage of the nonobstructed south-facing orientation of the addition
for the photovoltaics,” said Mark Rapoza, assistant vice president for capital
properties and facilities planning for Providence College.
The college chose ATAS International’s ATA-Solar BIPV system.ATA-Solar is
available in different panel options, but the center’s roof consists of
24-gauge steel standing-seam roofing panels in a Silversmith color with a
thin-film amorphous silicon laminate applied. In all, 4,880 square feet of
metal roofing and 72 18-foot laminates were installed. The laminates have a
rating of 136 watts DC each, yielding a total system rating of 9.792
kW.
The college selected the metal roof for aesthetics as well as chose the
sustainable material because of its minimal maintenance. When comparing solar
system options, BIPV stood out because of its effectiveness. “Based upon our
usage, budget and the life expectancy of the various options, the integrated
design was the most efficient for the college,” Rapoza
said.
Jim Bush, vice president of sales for ATAS, added: “ATA-Solar is an attractive
system that gave the university the look it wanted as well as an efficient,
low-maintenance energy source.”
Providence College
called on architectural firm Symmes Maini & McKee Associates of Cambridge,
Mass., to design the addition and, thereby, create a new entrance for the Slavin Center
and transform the existing usable space. The firm also was asked to improve the
aesthetics of the Slavin
Center, which opened in
1971. “The architecture of the late 60s/early 70s was less than attractive by
most opinions,” Rapoza explained. “The hope was that the addition would add a
new façade to the existing [structure], which was heavily dominated by
brick/concrete. The newly constructed glass atrium allows for natural
light and a space that is far more welcoming.”
The project consisted of expanding the south side of the building with a
two-level addition, which encompasses a total of 8,800 square feet of new space
and 560 square feet of renovated space on three levels. The lower level of the
two-level addition contains a student lounge with an adjacent coffee and snack
shop. The upper level consists of a quiet student lounge. The primary
renovations to the existing building were the expansion of studio space for
WDOM-FM radio and PCtv.
John Scott, AIA, ACHA, principal and project director for SMMA, led the design
effort and believes the addition has transformed the Slavin Center.
“It is light, airy, transparent and very inviting during all hours of the day.
You can now see the activities within. It has become the magnet of the center,
the sustainability workshop, the centerpiece of the Common and the backdrop for
commencement activities.”
Those interested in observing the BIPV system at work can watch daily panel
outputs on a flat-screen monitor in the center’s lower level or visit
www.tinyurl.com/yaelo6e. And as any proper collegiate institution should, Providence College is putting its cool roof to use
in the classroom. “We had hoped that the installation of the panels, along with
other sustainable initiatives in the project, would be somewhat of an
educational element of the project,” Rapoza said. “We have scientists and
students using the information generated on the website in a number of
classes.”
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