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WisconSUN Case Study:
McKay Visitor Center Addition
University of Wisconsin Arboretum
- Installation completed: Winter, 2001
- PV system: Atlantis SunSlate, PV slate roofing system
- System size: 8.5 kW, 700 slates, 860 ft2
- Estimated annual production: 8,000 kWh
- PV System Owner: Madison Gas and Electric
- Installed by: Great Northern Solar and Great Lakes Electrical
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
The PV powered McKay Visitor Center Addition joins the original solar heated McKay Center. The McKay Visitor Center is now one of a few dual solar-fueled commercial buildings in the Midwest.
The SunSlates are a Swiss-designed PV panel that can be made with either crystalline or amorphous silica PV cells, mounted on a man-made concrete/fiber roofing slate. The McKay Visitor Center's PV system uses crystalline cells, which use about half the area of an amorphous module system (but also suffer greater efficiency declines as temperatures increase).Individual SunSlate panels are wired together using a weatherproof lockable connection.
SunSlate PV system were developed in Europe where slate roofs are common (asphalt roofs are rare in Europe). To improve aesthetics, SunSlate arrays are commonly fringed by blank slates.
The McKay Visitor Center's 16,000 square foot, two-level addition also includes clerestory windows providing daylighting and low, overhanging eves to shade the south and west exposures. The first level includes a reception area, visitor orientation/exhibit space with interactive displays, a multi-purpose meeting and instructional room, library, and gift shop.
For more information contact: Mr. David Toso, Madison Gas and Electric, phone 608.252.5641, or e-mail dtoso@mge.com.
Photo credits
UW-Madison Arboretum
copyright © 2001 WisconSUN
