British Telecom America Parking Lot Tracking System

El Segundo, Calif.

British Telecom constructed a solar photovoltaic system for its North American corporate headquarters site, with the vast majority of its 2000 solar modules mounted on top of a state-of-the-art, elevated single-axis tracking system installed above the site’s parking lot. This is the first use of a long-span, prestressed system to support photovoltaic tracking panels.

Use of the precast for the mounting structure was 15–20% lower in cost than the typically used steel mounts. The smooth, natural concrete finish does not require the annual maintenance that steel structures would need to keep a quality finish in the salt air environment. The project is a showcase for an innovative use of precast and hopefully is the first of many such systems.

Precaster: Mid-State Precast
Website: www.midstateprecast.com

Architect: EI Solutions
Website: www.arcturis.com/

Engineer of record: Nakaki Bashaw
Website: www.nbgrp.com

Area: 156,704 ft²
Number of stories: 1
Structural system: Precast concrete
Components:
81 columns
81 IT beams