EDMONTON, ALTA. – The City of Edmonton is putting $10.8 million towards an atrium modernization project at the Edmonton Convention Centre that will replace skylights with solar cells.
The new solar cells will convert sunlight into electricity while maintaining the same transparency as the original glass units installed 35 years ago. All 696 sloped panels on the atrium will be replaced with photovoltaic units replacing approximately 50 per cent of existing glass. The City of Edmonton estimates over 227,000 kilowatt hours of electricity will be generated annually and the panels will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 150,000 kg.
“Our commitment to sustainable design is reflected in projects such as this. This iconic building in Edmonton’s river valley provided a great opportunity to introduce the largest building-integrated photovoltaic glazing system in Canada, City of Edmonton facility infrastructure delivery program manager Brad Watson said.
“As stewards of a public facility, we have a duty to respect and honour the venue’s landmark location in Edmonton’s river valley. Not only does the installation help position Edmonton as an attractive destination for sustainable events, it encouraged us, our clients and our guests to set loftier goals that support the future of our industry and environment,” Edmonton Convention Centre sustainability manager Melissa Radu said.
DIALOG is designing the replacement windows which are built to accommodate both extreme temperatures and accommodation of the roof’s vertical slope.
“Our team at DIALOG is proud to be part of helping the Edmonton Convention Centre continue to evolve. The installation of the integrated solar PV system demonstrates true leadership and the City of Edmonton’s commitment to a more sustainable future. We are excited to see this unique and important transformation of the atrium glazing completed,” DIALOG principal architect Donna Claire said.
The Edmonton Convention Centre will remain open during construction and is expected to reach completion in early 2020.
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