Project Profile: The Sauer Center
Client: Sauer Brands
Location: Richmond, VA
System Size: 349.5 kW DC (rooftop + canopy)
Project Type: Rooftop + Canopy
The Challenge
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 Solution
The Sauer Center’s large, underutilized parking lot and building rooftops represented an untapped opportunity to meaningfully reduce operating costs. Commonwealth Power designed and installed a 349.5 kW DC mixed carport and rooftop solar system that delivered on every dimension of the vision: structurally sound, operationally effective, and architecturally significant.
Fabricated 10,000+ custom rivets to bring the bespoke canopy design to life
Integrated rooftop array with the canopy for a combined system
Designed to reduce operating costs while doubling as a flagship brand asset
Our Role
As General Contractor and EPC partner, Commonwealth Power owned the project end-to-end — managing the engineering, procurement, and construction with the precision a custom build demands.
What made it work:
Civil engineering and custom footer design to support the canopy structure
Long-lead steel procurement managed proactively to keep the project on schedule
Fabrication and installation of thousands of custom features for a fully unique aesthetic
End-to-end quality control ensuring a high-quality, attractive finished system
The Results
The Sauer Center solar installation is now generating clean energy and delivering measurable value for Sauer Brands—both financially and reputationally.
Impact at a glance:
Reduced operating costs for Sauer Brands’ facility
A standout marketing asset that reflects the brand’s identity and commitment to sustainability
A landmark structure that will honor Richmond’s industrial character for decades to come
The canopies were so well-received in Phase I that they were carried into Phase II of the 37-acre Sauer Center development.
Shared Values
The Sauer Center represents a vision of solar that goes beyond kilowatts and carbon offsets. It proves that clean energy infrastructure can be genuinely beautiful and that great design and sustainability aren’t in conflict.
Everyone involved believes in:
Building for longevity, both structurally and aesthetically
Honoring Richmond’s history through thoughtful, forward-looking design
Proving that solar can be something people are proud of, not just something they install
Behind the Build
“The Sauer project is literally why I joined the company. I had never really seen a solar installation look good, look artistic. It felt like something out of history—and made me feel like we should do more building like that. My dream job as a kid was to be an architect. That project brought a childlike spark of joy back to me.”
