Dragonscale Solar Roof at Google Bay View Campus: Key Innovations and Features

Google’s Bay View campus in Silicon Valley features the groundbreaking Dragonscale solar roof, a major leap in both sustainable architecture and solar technology. Here’s what makes it unique:

1. Integrated Design and Aesthetics

• The Dragonscale roof is composed of 90,000 custom silver-grey solar panels that form a shimmering, scale-like skin across the building’s curved roofs135.

• Unlike traditional solar panels, these tiles are rhomboidal and overlap, resembling dragon scales, which not only creates a visually striking effect but also prevents wind, rain, and ice from seeping through the gaps29.
  

2. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

• Rather than adding panels to a finished building, Google and SunStyle designed the solar system as an integral part of the architecture from the outset-an approach known as building-integrated photovoltaics35.

• The roof’s curved, pavilion-like shapes and the layout of the solar tiles allow for optimal sun exposure from multiple angles, enabling energy generation throughout more of the day compared to flat roofs34513.
  

3. Advanced Solar Technology

• Each tile is made from highly textured, prismatic glass with a unique coating that traps sunlight more effectively than traditional flat panels, increasing efficiency347.

• The prismatic glass also reduces glare, which is important for safety near airports and for minimizing visual disruption to the surrounding area3479.
  

4. Sustainability Impact

• The Dragonscale solar roof generates up to 7 megawatts of renewable energy, covering about 40% of the campus’s annual energy needs234579.

• This innovation is a key part of Google’s broader commitment to operating on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030379.

• The campus also features other sustainability measures, such as the largest North American geothermal pile system for heating and cooling, further reducing its carbon footprint9.
  

5. Architectural Collaboration

• The project was designed by a team including Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Heatherwick Studio, and SunStyle, with an emphasis on innovation, nature, and community59.
  

6. Industry Influence

• Google and SunStyle aimed to create a solar roof solution that is not only functional and beautiful but also economically viable and scalable for broader use in the building industry23.
  

Summary Table: Dragonscale Solar Roof Highlights

Feature	Description
Number of Tiles	90,000 custom solar panels
Energy Output	7 megawatts (~40% of campus needs)
Technology	Prismatic glass, anti-glare, BIPV
Design	Rhomboidal, overlapping “dragon scale” tiles, curved rooflines
Sustainability Goals	Carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030
Architectural Team	BIG, Heatherwick Studio, SunStyle
Additional Innovations	Largest geothermal pile system for heating/cooling; daylight-optimized spaces

Key Project Roles and Companies

Role/Discipline	Company/Organization	Country
Client/Developer	Google Inc.	USA
Development Manager	Sares Regis Group of Northern California	USA
Design Architects	BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group	Denmark/USA
	Heatherwick Studio	UK
Executive Architect	Adamson Associates	Canada/USA
Interior Architect	STUDIOS Architecture	USA
Events Consultant	Populous	USA/UK
Project Management (PMC)	Google, Sares Regis Group	USA
Landscape Architect	OLIN	USA
Civil Engineer	Arup, BKF, Sherwood	UK, USA
Structural Engineer	Thornton Tomasetti	USA
MEP Engineer	Integral Group	USA/Canada
Façade Engineer	Arup	UK
Façade Contractor	Benson	USA
General Contractor (EPC)	Whiting-Turner	USA
Solar Technology Provider	SunStyle	Switzerland
Fire Safety	Holmes	USA/NZ
Daylighting Consultant	Loisos + Ubbelohde	USA
Lighting Consultant	FMS	USA
Water Engineer	Sherwood	USA
Acoustic Consultant	Arup	UK
Telecommunications	Teecom	USA
Access & Maintenance	C.S. Caulkins Co	USA
Signage/Wayfinding	Applied Wayfinding	UK
Geotechnical Engineer	Kleinfelder	USA

Project Highlights and Innovations

• Dragonscale Solar Roof:90,000 custom-designed, prismatic glass solar tiles by SunStyle, integrated into the building envelope to maximize energy generation and aesthetics. The roof generates up to 7 megawatts, covering about 40% of the campus’s annual energy needs1238.

• Sustainability Certifications:Pursuing LEED Platinum v4 and Living Building Challenge (LBC) Water Petal certification368.

• Largest Geothermal System in North America:Used for heating and cooling, reducing water consumption by 90%27.

• Net Water Positive Campus:Features advanced rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling systems249.

• Human-Centric Design:Emphasis on biophilic design, natural light, flexible workspaces, and integration with nature136.

• Innovative Construction:Prefabricated structural steel modules, advanced façade engineering, and coordination among multiple international teams9.

Countries Involved

• USA: Google, Sares Regis, Adamson Associates, STUDIOS Architecture, Populous, OLIN, BKF, Sherwood, Thornton Tomasetti, Integral Group, Benson, Whiting-Turner, Holmes, Loisos + Ubbelohde, FMS, Teecom, C.S. Caulkins Co, Kleinfelder.

• Denmark: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.

• UK: Heatherwick Studio, Arup, Applied Wayfinding.

• Switzerland: SunStyle (solar technology provider).

• Canada: Adamson Associates, Integral Group.

• New Zealand: Holmes (fire safety).

Summary Table: Major Project Contributors

Role	Company/Consortium	Country/Region
Developer/Client	Google Inc.	USA
Masterplanner/Design	BIG, Heatherwick Studio	Denmark, UK
Executive Architect	Adamson Associates	Canada/USA
Project Management	Sares Regis Group, Google	USA
Landscape Architect	OLIN	USA
Structural Engineer	Thornton Tomasetti	USA
Civil Engineer	Arup, BKF, Sherwood	UK, USA
MEP Engineer	Integral Group	USA/Canada
Façade Engineer	Arup	UK
Façade Contractor	Benson	USA
General Contractor	Whiting-Turner	USA
Solar Technology	SunStyle	Switzerland

Conclusion

The Google Bay View Campus and its Dragonscale solar roof exemplify a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving leading firms from the USA, Europe, and beyond. The project sets a new benchmark for sustainable, human-centric, and technologically advanced corporate campuses, with contributions from world-class architects, engineers, contractors, and technology innovators1236789.

In short:The Dragonscale solar roof at Google’s Bay View campus is a pioneering example of how solar energy systems can be both highly efficient and architecturally stunning, setting a new standard for sustainable, integrated building design123457913.

Citations:

1. https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/dragonscale-solar/

2. https://www.sunstyle.com/portfolio/dragonscale-google-bay-view-campus/

3. https://palmetto.com/solar/google-and-sunstyle-create-dragonscale-solar-roof-tiles

4. https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a40050447/a-dragonscale-solar-roof-is-the-sparkling-focus-of-googles-sustainable-new-bay-view-campus/

5. https://solarchitecture.ch/google-dragonscale/

6. https://www.royalwhiteproperty.com/zorlu-center

7. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/new-google-hq-with-dragonscale-solar-panels/

8. https://www.zorlupsm.com/en/corporate/surdurulebilirlik

9. https://www.ecoticias.com/en/dragonscale-solar-skin-google-bay-view/12414/

10. https://www.across-magazine.com/outstanding-european-placemaking-projects-green-modern-mixed-used-zorlu-in-istanbul-raises-shopping-center-standards-to-a-new-level/

11. https://www.designboom.com/technology/sunstyle-dragonscale-solar-shingles-complex-roofs-11-04-2022/

12. https://helvar.com/case-studies/retail/zorlu-center-retail/

13. https://www.fastcompany.com/90752589/at-googles-new-campus-dragonscale-solar-panels-capture-sunlight-from-all-different-angles

14. https://www.zorluenerji.com.tr/en/sustainability/sustainability-management/our-sustainability-strategy

15. https://www.vestelyatirimciiliskileri.com/_assets/pdf/2019_SustainabilityReport.pdf

16. https://www.zorluenerji.com.tr/en/sustainability/sustainability-management/sustainability-performance

17. https://www.zorlu.com.tr/en/fields-of-activity/sectors/property

18. https://zinco-greenroof.com/references/zorlu-center-istanbul

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

Citations:

1. https://www.sunstyle.com/portfolio/dragonscale-google-bay-view-campus/

2. https://www.ecoticias.com/en/dragonscale-solar-skin-google-bay-view/12414/

3. https://www.designboom.com/architecture/google-bay-view-big-heatherwick-studio-05-18-2022/

4. https://www.whiting-turner.com/projects/office/google-bay-view/

5. https://www.facadetectonics.org/events/2023-highlights-of-the-vitruvian-awards/sessions/google-bay-view-campus

6. http://www.world-architects.com/en/big-bjarke-ingels-group-valby-copenhagen/project/google-bay-view

7. https://www.adamson-associates.com/project/google-bay-view/

8. https://www.archdaily.com/985328/google-bay-view-big-plus-heatherwick-studio

9. https://www.enr.com/articles/55525-project-of-the-year-and-best-office-sustainability-permeates-googles-bay-view-campus

10. https://realestate.withgoogle.com/bayview/

11. https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/new-step-sustainability-google-bay-view-campus-big-heatherwick-studio-opens-its-doors

12. https://www.adamson-associates.com/project/google-bay-view/

13. https://www.archdaily.com/982121/googles-bay-view-campus-designed-by-big-and-heatherwick-studio-opens-in-silicon-valley-california

14. https://archello.com/news/detail-photovoltaic-roof-of-google-bay-view-campus-mountain-view

15. https://www.archdaily.com/catalog/us/products/35856/solar-tiles-system-in-google-bay-view-campus-sunstyle

16. https://sidaracollaborative.com/projects/google-bay-view

17. https://www.yahoo.com/news/google-covers-buildings-dragonscale-solar-220029000.html

18. https://www.introba.com/work/projects/google-bay-view

19. https://estateagentpower.com/blogs/news/googles-bay-view-campus-a-glimpse-into-the-future-of-real-estate

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share