Sauer Brands had a bold vision: transform an underutilized parking lot into a sustainable monument to Richmond's historic railroad trestles. This blend of solar technology with a custom art nouveau canopy structure would be a nod to historic electric trolley stations that ran up and down Broad Street where the Sauer Center is located.

Carport solar installations are among the most complex projects in the industry. Unlike rooftop systems, they require ground-up civil engineering: soil analysis, custom footer design, and structural calculations to support the steel that’s built to withstand decades of wind, snow, and load stress. 

And this wasn't a standard carport. The canopy was a fully custom design — one-of-a-kind in form and fabrication — with no template to follow and no margin for error.

The Estate at River Run, a luxury 62-acre event venue overlooking the James River, wanted to expand its capacity for weddings, corporate retreats, and large community gatherings.

Commonwealth Power designed and built a hybrid solar system that now powers the entire Helios community.