This project provides 95% of all electrical power required by the 3 buildings on the site, totaling 120,000 SF. The geometry of the site requred us to design 6 different solar panel supporting structures, including an elegant solar tree. The solar tree utilizes the double HIT Sanyo panel which outputs 10 to 15% more power thanks to the ambient lighting captured on the back of the panel.

The following animation shows how the solar trees can be shipped flat, planted on site, and unfolded to receive the array of solar panels.

A few years back, Chong Partners designed the community center for an indian Nation, in northern California. The Tribal Council Chambers were added to the north of the site, adjacent to the school building. The relationship with the gathering hall building, the ellipse in the center of the existing composition, has been a major design factor for the council chambers. After we proposed a few massing studies, the client selected a "regular", hortogonal design which fits the contextual buildings and does not compete with the existing elliptical hall. Solar panels, hydronic slabs, and motorized operable glazing and shades, are all part of the sustainable features which make this a zero energy building. The building was designed and documented mostly in Revit. I have been the Project Architect from schematic design through 50% CDs.