Constellation Place, LLC - MGM Tower
Los Angeles (Century City), California

The Project Challenge

MGM Tower is a 35-story class A high-rise building in Century City, California. The building was awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008 and was the winner of the 2008 Building Owners and Managers Assoc. (BOMA) TOBY award for its square footage category. Constellation Place, LLC, the owner of MGM Tower, elected to enhance the building's environmental footprint and reduce energy expenses with a solar power system.

The building's multi-level parking structure presented a unique one-acre area on the top level for a large scale Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system.

The Green Solution

Two adjacent top level of the parking structure were selected for the solar power system. The 431-kilowatt peak (kWp) (or 375 kW AC) system was completed in just four months. SCHOTT Solar's 310-watt solar modules and its SunRoof FS System, with pre-engineered mounting frames at a 5-degree tilt, were mounted directly on the parking surface. Careful simulations were needed to arrange the systems in efficient arrays free of shading from the high-rise and adjacent structures. Dedicated inverters were provided for each of the two main array areas.

MGM Tower's solar system is currently the third largest PV system installed in the City of Los Angeles. It will provide enough energy to offset over 12% of annual energy use and reduce daytime demand by up to 29%.

The Project Benefits of Going Green

• The solar power system will reduce MGM Tower's electricity costs.
  
  
• The system qualifies for a LADWP solar incentive rebate, a 30% Federal Tax Credit and depreciation benefits.
  
  
• In addition to the system's typical 40+ year lifespan, with a comprehensive 10 year full system warranty on workmanship and equipment, safe guards Constellation's investment for years to come.
  
  
• The solar energy generated at Constellation's MGM Tower will prevent over 277 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from being released into the atmosphere by fossil-fueled power plants each year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to eliminating the CO₂ emissions from 31,452 gallons of gasoline of planting 92 acres of trees.