Ronald Evitts has pioneered innovative architectural applications of photovoltaic technology on several projects and continues to be committed to creative uses of such green technology in the office’s work.

On the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Manhattan, Evitts’ idea to incorporate a roof-wide array of photovoltaic panels as a complement to the electronic façade facing the water became part of the revised Venturi, Scott Brown Associates design in 1994. This technology was retained in the final design accepted by the city, at a smaller scale, though in a more prominent, Viewing Deck Canopy location. Crowning the publicly accessible space on the building’s roof, the photovoltaic panel canopy provides shade for the public, simultaneously generating electricity feeding into the grid. Rated at 35 kW, this demonstration project is a powerful symbol of the city’s commitment to the technology and the architectural possibilities inherent in it.

At the residential scale, a small house on Sag Harbor Cove incorporates an array of Kyocera multi-crystalline cell panels as awnings for the south-facing (and view-fronting) windows. Rated at 2.6 kW, this system was eligible for a rebate from Long Island Power Authority (at $5/watt), and the client can claim tax credits for the installation.