SAN FRANCISO, Calif. — Build Group, Inc. completed the first phase of a massive solar support canopy project at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The company provided design/build services to long-time client REC Solar.
Located on the South campus of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Phase I consists of 3.72 MW of the 6.8 MW of solar carports slated for installation. When complete, the project will be the largest installation of solar canopies on a VA hospital campus in the United States.
Build Group kept the parking lots open by carefully sequencing the work to accommodate automobile and pedestrian traffic. The implementation team posted prominent signs and performed meticulous preplanning of logistics to ensure the safety of hospital staff, patients and visitors during installation.
The project design incorporates seven solar panels across each T structure, compared to the industry standard of only six panels. By elevating more panels with the same amount of structure, the per-unit watt return is maximized. Due to temperate winds in the area, the structure is designed to withstand a standard 85 MPH wind. Cost efficient drilled cast-in-place piles were used as well as 240-watt panels.
Build Group utilizes its international and national supply chain of AISC certified structural steel fabricators to source the materials on behalf of clients. With a strong pipeline of manufacturers, Build Group guarantees clients high quality products at extremely competitive prices. Only domestic materials were utilized for the West Los Angeles VA project in accord with the Federal “Buy American Act”.
“Our solar canopy expertise allows us to expedite construction thereby minimizing impact on business operations,” said Eric Horn, Build Group’s chief operating officer. “We are pleased to help the Department of Veterans Affairs achieve their goal of becoming a leader in alternative energy.”
About Build Group
Established in 2007, Build Group is a privately held California Corporation located in San Francisco. The company provides general contracting services to a diverse clientele and specializes in multifamily residential, mixed-use, office buildings, solar support structures, parking garages, retail and restaurants. Build Group self-performs structural concrete and provides services to other general contractors through its sister company, Pacific Structures. For more information please visit http://www.buildgc.com. A patent pending design of Build Group, Solumbria, provides adaptable and upgradeable solar support structure solutions for private and public projects.
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