In 2010, EXTECH completed two standout projects that showcased its ability to integrate solar technology and solve complex retrofit challenges in daylighting and roofing systems. Each project stands as an example of EXTECH’s commitment to innovation, adaptability, and real-world design solutions.
At the DDC-DEP Remsen Avenue Yard Project in Brooklyn, NY, more than 300 semi-transparent photovoltaic panels were integrated into a custom-designed SKYGARD skylight system. These solar panels transmitted approximately 50 percent of daylight while also generating electricity, combining form and function to meet the facility’s energy and lighting needs. EXTECH collaborated with Kiss & Cathcart Architects and played a key design role, developing custom aluminum extrusions for the series of long-span skylights. While installation was handled by another contractor, EXTECH supported the process with multiple site visits to ensure the system’s seamless integration.
At General Electric’s U.S. Headquarters in Pittsfield, MA, a facility originally built in the 1970s, EXTECH provided a custom retrofit design for leaking barrel vault skylights and adjacent roofing. The existing skylights, located in the atrium and made of curved panels with hundreds of failing joints, were replaced using new cellular polycarbonate panels that ran continuously from ridge to eave, eliminating horizontal seams. To support the installation, EXTECH removed the upper half of the existing framing system and developed compatible aluminum extrusions. EXTECH also designed a standing seam metal roofing system using 0.060-inch-thick clear anodized aluminum panels, which were curved on site.
Both projects reflect EXTECH’s depth in custom daylighting solutions and reinforce its commitment to practical innovation and lasting performance.
