3rd Place - $250.00 prizeSubmitted by:
Scott Leonard
DEKKER, PERICH, SABATINI ARCHITECTS
7601 Jefferson NE, Suite 100
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
(505) 761-9700
scottl@dpsdesign.orgVertical Sunshade at the Advent Solar Building, located at Mesa Del Sol
This submittal is for a vertical sunshade at the Advent Solar Building, located at Mesa del Sol, a new Development in Albuquerque, NM. Mesa del Sol is a 12,900 acre master planned development on Albuquerque's southeast mesa. The Advent Solar Building is an 87,600 square foot industrial office warehouse. Because Advent Solar was the first building at Mesa del Sol, the developer wanted to set a benchmark for high tech sustainable design to fulfill their vision of a forward-thinking, mixed use community.
One feature of the building was a proposed series of 12 vertical solar panel arrays that also act as shading devices for the western facade. A lack of manufacturing supply of the solar panels at the time of construction prevented this use. The vertical screen element was almost taken out of the project completely. The architect wanted to keep the vertical sunshade as a strong element of the design. The idea was discussed to go back later and apply the panels to the building as they became available. Often, however, such later additions can be neglected if the project is already completed satisfactorily without them.
The solution presented itself in the form of perforated aluminum panels. Harrington and King Perforating Company supplied (60) .063 3003-h14 72" x 48" panels with ½" square holes on ¾" straight row centers 45% open area. These panels provided a good alternative due to their cost effectiveness, both as a material and in the construction labor costs. Because the attachment holes were pre-drilled at the factory, the panels were simply attached to the painted tube steel frame. In addition, their perforations allowed for a striking design statement, fitting in with the high-tech aesthetic set forth by the project goals. The pattern chosen effectively shades the west elevation from direct sun, without completely obscuring the views.
Functionally, these panels shade the west elevation. Compositionally, they create the vertical elements of the original intention of design. Thematically, they promote the high tech industrial aesthetic set forth by the developer.
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