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Rooftop Wind Research Team seeks to collaborate with a Design Architect

Mark Maddalina

Principal, Sustainable Design Director

SWBR

LEEDuser Premium Member

0 thumbs up

February 17, 2020

Hello All,

Through a regional School of Architecture, our firm has been connected with a very intriguing startup that has been engineering a new rooftop wind energy technology. They are developing a system to economically capture the increased wind flows at the edges of commercial building rooftops. They have engineered this system, currently have prototypes and they are focusing primarily on industrial and “big box” project types.

They are currently preparing a grant application and working in collaboration with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory on this project. They would like to identify an architectural teammate who would be able to assist them with iterative visual studies. Their grant application is due on 2/27.

While very impressed during our conversation and highly intrigued, our firm will not be able to assist in the process.

Would any of your firms be interested in participating in this rooftop wind research effort? I would be glad to share more information, discuss this with you and connect you with the co-founder of this initiative.

Thanks for your consideration.

Mark

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Nadav Malin

CEO

Green Commons, LLC

LEEDuser Expert

586 thumbs up

Mon, 02/17/2020 - 18:55

Hi Mark, I don't know anything about the specific technology this company is pursuing, so this may not be relevant, but your description reminds me of what Aerovironment was trying to do over a decade ago--see the BG story "Wind Turbines on the Parapet". I was pretty optimistic about them at the time, in part because this company had some really sophisticated wind researchers on their team, and weren't trying to sell the inherently inefficient vertical-axis devices that were all the rage back then. But they never did succeed commercially. I think that part of their downfall was the fact that their technology depending on wind always coming from the same direction. Even where there are prevailing winds, it seems that there are enough times when the wind changes direction that it's useful for a turbine to be able to rotate into the wind. But there is probably much more to the story... Nadav

Lois Vitt Sale

Chief Sustainability Officer

Wight & Company

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Mon, 02/17/2020 - 21:38

Mark – We are located very close to Argonne National Labs. There’s only ten days for this assignment and we’re not sure if we have the tools needed for the visualization you mentioned. However, I talked to our renderer and if we can help, we will. Why don’t you send me an email to lvittsale@wightco.com with a contact so we can learn more about this assignment and see if we are a good fit. Lois From: M

Mark Maddalina

Principal, Sustainable Design Director

SWBR

LEEDuser Premium Member

0 thumbs up

Mon, 02/17/2020 - 21:57

Thanks, Lois! I think they are looking for the commitment with the grant, but not the work…just yet. Let’s talk. Much appreciated! Mark Fro

Luke Leung

Principal

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Tue, 02/18/2020 - 15:39

Mark, Lois, We are also in Chicago, but further away from Argonne. If required, we can help on the grant proposal. Dr Stephen Ray from our team graduated from MIT with computational fluid dynamics background and is currently working on another grant from DOE, so he is familiar with the process. Best,
LL

Mark Maddalina

Principal, Sustainable Design Director

SWBR

LEEDuser Premium Member

0 thumbs up

Tue, 02/18/2020 - 15:43

Thank you, Luke. I sent Lois the contact and will await her feedback on the opportunity. Dr. Ray sounds like a great fit. I will share the status on this with the group. Sincere Thanks!