Bergen County Parking Garage Solar Canopy

2011 Design Award Winner

Project Team

Structural Engineer: Innovative Engineering, Inc. 
Owner: SunLight General Capital
Architect: Innovative Engineering, Inc. 
General Contractor: Pfister Energy 
Steel Joist Manufacturer: Canam Steel Corp.
Steel Detailer: Midwest Detailing 
Steel Fabricator: Structural Steel Fabricators, Inc. 
Steel Erector: Lunar Steel, Inc.
Host: Bergen County, New Jersey

Project Type: Unique Application

Project Description

This project utilizes steel joists and girders to create a roof structure to support solar panels over the top level of a parking garage.

What Makes This Project Interesting

This project utilizes steel joists and girders to create a roof structure to support solar panels over the top level of a parking garage. A system of joists and joist girders were erected, light gage support angles were attached across the joists , and the solar panels were attached to the light gage support angles. Because the system is exposed to the weather all of the joists and joist girders had to have a galvanized finish. This system allowed a means of optimizing efficiency of space as solar energy  is now able to be collected while not impacting the parking capacity of the garage and not requiring any additional building footprint. 

Advantages Of The Chosen Structural System

The joist and joist girder system provides an efficient means of supporting the solar panels while limiting the required number of supports and the overall steel tonnage required and minimizing the number of columns required to maintain an open space below.  The galvanized finish prevents the need to protect the structure from the weather while providing a durable structure. Not only are the joists allowing for renewable energy to be collected, but the steel in the joists has been primarily produced from recycled  scrap. 

Project Scope

463 K Series Joists and 36 Joist Girders all with a Galvanized Finish – 145 Tons Total

Project Details

Joist cost, including fabrication and erection: $265,000
Size (square ft.): 80,000
Roof area using joists (square ft.): 80,000
Joist area (square ft.): 80,000 
Joist engineering to delivery (# days): 100
Joist erection (# days): 15

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