2022-23 Solar Array Canopy
May 25, 2023 - Open House/Senior Project Night
On May 25, a community open house was held in combination with senior project night, showcasing both the bond-constructed sustainable agriculture/design building and the recently-completed solar array canopy as well as the seniors' work on sustainability projects that these resources support. Attendees were able to view the presentations and results, including harvests, food production, and construction designs.
Read Ray Pitz's May 26 article in the Hillsboro Tribune and watch Thomas Schults' May 25 telecast on KGW News about the program.
Photo 1: the solar array canopy is completed with installation of a garage door to allow access to and secure the mechanical shed.
Photo 2: the agriculture workroom is filled with students' plantings and related construction projects.
Photo 3: a drip irrigation system for the large greenhouse was designed and installed as part of a senior project.
Photo 4: a student talks to attendees about his work on a motor.
Photo 5: some of the products of the construction design program includes these mini-greenhouses. The workspace under the solar array canopy will allow fabrication of larger projects like sheds.
Photo 1: the sidewalk between the sustainable ag/design building and the canopy has been completed. A crew member compacts the gravel that forms the base for the work area under the canopy.
Photos 1 and 2: a new sidewalk is being constructed under the canopy for better access to the area.
Photo 1: clouds are reflected off the surface of the installed solar panels on top of the canopy.
Photo 2: power has been connected; a lighted workspace is available for student projects under the canopy.
Photo 3: a closer view of the panels and lighting under the canopy.
Photo 4: full completion of the mechanical shed is pending delivery of the roll-up door in May.
Photo 5: inside the shed, final wiring and installation of power components are in progress.
Photo 1: the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee views the progress of the solar array canopy project.
Photos 2 and 3: the solar panels are installed one at a time via a lift.
Photo 4: the panels are secured to the canopy rails.
Photo 5: a crew member makes the electrical connections for the solar panels.
Photo 6: inside the shed, overhead lighting and other electrical fixtures are being installed.
Photo 1: nearly all the rails for the solar panels have been installed.
Photo 2: a test installation of a couple panels has been done; connecting cables are being added to the rails.
Photo 3: the siding for the exterior of the mechanical shed has been completed.
Photos 4 and 5: plywood sheathing has been installed on the interior walls of the shed.
Photo 1: this aerial view shows construction progress to date, including installation of the rails for mounting the solar panels.
Photos 2 and 3: a pair of crew members use their lifts to carry and place a rail up to the canopy for installation.
Photo 4: seen from above, the crew members affix the rail to the canopy.
Photo 5: siding for the final, south unfinished wall of the mechanical shed is nearly complete.
Photo 6: the interior of the shed is now being drywalled.
Photo 1: once wiring to the exterior is completed, siding will be installed on the remaining wall of the mechanical shed.
Photos 2 and 3: preparations are underway to begin installing drywall to finish the interior walls of the mechanical shed.
Photo 4: framing for the solar panels and their power lines is starting up.
Photos 1-3: work continues on completing the mechanical shed; siding on two sides has been installed.
Photos 1-2: bar grating has been installed over the canopy. Installation of the solar panels is expected to take place in a couple weeks.
Photo 3: crew members have started installation of the siding for the mechanical shed under the canopy.
Photos 1-2: work is starting on the canopy roof in preparation for installation of the solar panels. Crew members are also installing electrical conduit for the lighting that will be placed under the canopy.
Photo 3: framing has started for exterior walls for the equipment room.
Photo 4: the inside of the equipment room so far.
Photo 5: concrete is poured for a base of one of the canopy columns to anchor it. There are 10 columns in all
Photos 1 and 2: now that the structural steel for the canopy has been erected, the crew works on installing roof panels over the equipment shed.
Photo 3: a view of the steel canopy from the ground.
Photo 4: a roof panel is manually lifted up to the top of the shed.
Photo 1: a crane has been brought on site to lift the structural steel for the canopy.
Photo 2: a beam is carefully lifted to load a beam above the area.
Photo 3: crew members rotate the beam for proper positioning before re-lifting it on the canopy columns.
Photo 4: the beams are fastened to the structural columns.
Photo 1: structural steel for the canopy has been delivered on site.
Photo 2: the electrical/mechanical equipment room is now enclosed.
Photo 3: the interior, so far, of the equipment room.
Photo 4: crew members finish inserting the screws for the wall boards.
Photos 1-3: crew members work on adding the walls for the mechanical/electrical equipment room.
Photos 1-4: the building housing the electrical and mechanical equipment for the solar array is now erected as crew members work on the framing.
Photos 1-3: construction has started for the equipment room housing the solar array electronics and monitoring systems. It will sit at the west end of the canopy, below the array. The temporary, protective cover helps with the concrete pour for the room's foundation.
Photos 1-2: concrete has been poured for the canopy bases, and crew members start filling and compacting around the bases.
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Photos 1-2: framing for the concrete bases of the canopy posts continues.
Photos 1-3: frames for concrete are starting to be constructed inside the footings for the canopy.
Photos 1-3: packed soil now covers utility lines and conduit, with connections being made to the mains adjacent to the sustainable agriculture building. All of the footings for the canopy columns are now excavated.
Photos 1-3: some of the footings for the canopy have been excavated, and utility lines are being laid on the site.
Photo 1: aerial view facing west of the excavation and grading on the site for the solar array canopy.\
Photo 2: aerial view facing south of the work site (the Liberty campus can be seen in the background).
Photo 3: this ground-level view shows grading of gravel over impermeable sheeting.
Photos 1-2: now that the permit and redesign processes have concluded, the contractor is starting to mobilize on the site, setting up temporary fencing. Excavation and grading will begin shortly.
Photos 1-2: aerial views of the site before construction of the solar array canopy.
