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In a pioneering endeavour to revamp urban living in Toronto with sustainable solutions, the residential building at 1154 Wilson Avenue in North York is witnessing a green transformation. Having kicked off in September, 2023 with an anticipated completion by November, 2023, the project involves the retrofitting of outdated balcony railings across approximately 5,000ft with solar balcony railing technology, seamlessly weaving an estimated 180KW solar energy system into the framework of the building’s structure.
Mitrex, a company operating in the sustainable construction materials sector, is leading this retrofit project. The company is integrating Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) technology into the balcony railings of the building. This integration aims to update the building's aesthetics while also generating renewable energy. Given the current state of urban infrastructure, where an estimated 70% of the U.S. building stock from today is projected to still be in place by 2030, solutions like BIPV offer a viable pathway to achieving net-zero goals and complying with electric vehicle mandates.
Aesthetically, the retrofit significantly uplifts the visual appeal of the building, transforming outdated designs with modern materials and contemporary design principles. The use of BIPV products like cladding and railing in retrofit projects allows for this seamless blend of functionality and design, ensuring that sustainable solutions do not compromise the building’s appearance.
From an energy perspective, the project exemplifies how retrofitting can contribute to a building’s energy generation capacity. The integration of renewable energy sources in the form of solar balcony railings provides an on-site source of energy. BIPVs offer a dual functionality, serving both as a building material and a source of renewable energy.
In terms of sustainability and efficiency, the project highlights the importance of using recyclable and sustainable materials. The materials used in the retrofit are chosen with the aim of minimizing the environmental footprint of the building throughout its lifecycle. The adoption of standardized components for installations and railings ensures compliance with the latest safety and quality standards, contributing to the project's overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By upgrading the building’s environmental performance through energy-efficient systems, better insulation, and sustainable materials, the retrofit significantly reduces the building's carbon footprint.
Tyson Noce, P.Eng, Managing Principal at NoVi Engineering, the engineering firm for the project shared his perspective: “Using the same solar glass from their wall cladding systems in balcony railings creates an additional point of energy generation with significant potential." He added that, "Mitrex has successfully navigated installation challenges, building capacity for using their solar-glass balcony railings in future projects."
Similarly, Graeme Kennedy, Senior Associate of Development at Tenblock, the building owner, remarked on the project’s sustainability goals: “Mitrex’s made-in Toronto solution is an immediately deployable clean technology that was easy to substitute in place of a conventional balcony railing system. Choosing Mitrex created value through adding solar power generation to the building while contributing towards our decarbonization efforts."
Mitrex stands as a significant player in the green sector, known for its extensive manufacturing experience and status as the world’s largest BIPV manufacturer. The company’s goals revolve around promoting the adoption of integrated solar technology, aiming to balance economic viability with sustainability. Mitrex’s BIPV solutions cater to a wide range of applications, from residential homes to high rises and beyond, for both new constructions and retrofit projects.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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