Building Retrofit: Guinness World Record Solar BIPV Mural

The SunRise, a residential tower in Edmonton, underwent a deep energy retrofit to replace aging cladding while meeting a 50% decarbonization target. Mitrex designed and delivered a 267 kW building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) facade featuring a Guinness World Record–setting solar mural that celebrates local culture. The facade generates ~180,000 kWh annually, offsetting 54% of the building’s energy. Situated at the corner of sustainability science and art, the SunRise project unlocked financing, achieved a projected 4-year ROI, and created the world’s largest solar-integrated mural, setting a shined-on example for the world that’s inspiring similar projects elsewhere to think BIP V.

The SunRise, an aging residential tower in Edmonton, faced deteriorating cladding and rising energy costs. Owners sought a solution that met Alberta’s affordable housing sustainability targets while maintaining cultural significance for residents. Objectives for the project included achieving a 50% decarbonization benchmark—involving, in part, full mechanical and electrical upgrade and building envelope modernization—unlocking financing and reducing operational costs. Yes, there would be LED lighting upgrades but, less conventionally, the plan also involved revitalizing the building’s twelve story 1970 facade with an energy-generating, culturally expressive solution. That’s where Mitrex, a manufacturer of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) entered the energy generating picture.

And what a picture it is. The work of Lance Cardinal, the mural artist; who designed the culturally significant mural celebrating the area’s First Nations and Chinese heritage as the electric heart of the project. The mural incorporates First Nations and Chinese symbols, including zodiac signs and animals commonly depicted in traditional First Nations art. This celebrates local heritage and fosters cultural pride setting, a shined-on example of respect for community.

Mitrex began the project by conducting extensive sample testing of the custom mural colors and finishes at their Toronto facility. Different color variations were tested to optimize the facade’s solar performance while adhering to the artistic vision of the chosen mural artist. The optimized colors were then reviewed and approved by the developers during a visit to the Mitrex manufacturing facility. This ensured the chosen aesthetic would maintain strong solar performance, with accurate energy output predictions validated by the R&D team.

With this data in hand, Mitrex performed a full facade energy simulation, demonstrating that a vertical solar-integrated solution could offset more than half of the building’s operational energy, while meeting the project’s sustainability standards. With these objectives in mind, the Mitrex team developed a BIPV facade design that balanced energy performance, adhered to budget and met energy targets. Mitrex understood how to maintain the building’s cultural significance while taking the building’s energetic significance into the future.

The custom BIPV modules necessary for the project were manufactured at Mitrex’s Toronto facility, where they were integrated with the proprietary rainscreen system for efficient installation. The completed modules were then shipped to Edmonton, where they were met by Avenue Living, the project’s developer who oversaw the project vision, approvals, and financing and Chandos Construction, the project contractor general contractor who managed the site, coordinated trades, and ensured construction compliance.

But it was the Mitrex team that installed the BIPV facade and managed the mural project execution.

The BIPV facade was installed using a roof-suspended lift system, enabling efficient and safe placement of modules while maintaining the integrity of the design and schedule. Throughout this process, Mitrex project managers provided oversight and maintained clear communication with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and timely execution. This included having dedicated Mitrex staff on-site for the duration of the project, which being a Canadian construction project took longer than expected.

The project faced a delay due to weather challenges at the Edmonton site. Harsh winter conditions complicated the installation process, and Mitrex’s Toronto-based installation team had to adapt to extended time away from home and working in severe weather. Further throwing a damper on the project, during transport from Toronto to Edmonton, some modules were damaged, and at one point a module already installed was vandalized. These challenges were overcome by rescheduling and adjusting timelines, supporting the team on-site to maintain morale, and remanufacturing and replacing damaged or vandalized modules to ensure the final product met the highest standards, which it does.

The SunRise achieved a projected annual energy offset of ~180,000 kWh, equivalent to 54% of the building’s operational energy, while offsetting approximately 121.1 metric tonnes of CO₂ each year. This deep energy retrofit supports the building’s 50% decarbonization target and showcases the potential of vertical solar-integrated solutions.

By offsetting a significant portion of the building’s energy consumption, the system lowered operational costs and unlocked project financing. It is expected to achieve a full return on investment within four years, demonstrating the economic viability of sustainable retrofits.

Situated at the corner of sustainability, science and art, the project features the world’s largest solar-integrated mural, officially recognized with a Guinness World Record. This is the story of a deep retrofit that revitalized an aging residential tower, contributing to the renewal of the local community and elevating its visual identity. The SunRise sets a precedent for how Building-Integrated Photovoltaics can merge sustainability, affordability, and artistic expression in housing retrofits, inspiring similar projects elsewhere to think BIPV.