Green Electricity for Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth has become too small. In 2006, Renzo Piano was approached. Piano has extensive experience in museum construction and the expansion of cultural objects: he has expanded four art museums only in the USA. Initially hesitant, Renzo Piano accepted the contract and surpassed himself.

The Piano Pavilion symbolizes simplicity and lightness. As with all his museum buildings, Renzo Piano experimented with natural light, here primarily with the complex, well-thought-out roof system. The movable aluminium louvres with integrated photovoltaic cells were supplied and installed by GIG. Over 2,403 photovoltaic louvres in 387 elements were installed to regulate the light entering through the glass roof of the galleries – infinitely adjustable according to light requirements.

At the same time, the movable louvres produce around 1.4 MWh of green electricity on a total area of 1,000 m², which could supply about 500 households per year.

With this “green roof”, GIG was able to be nominated for the US-A-Biz Award 2014 and is thus in prominent society.