Solar Building

The Solar Building is a commercial structure in Albuquerque that incorporates photovoltaic panels directly into its walls and roof to generate electricity. The construction merges standard business architecture with working energy systems that power the building itself.

The structure was recognized as a pioneering example of solar technology in commercial buildings and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places. This acknowledgment reflects the value it holds for the history of energy innovation in architecture.

The building shows how solar technology entered everyday commercial spaces and changed how people think about building in a responsible way.

The building is easy to view during daytime hours since the solar panels are visible from outside and clearly seen from the street. The best time to visit is a sunny day when you can see the installation working.

This building was constructed when solar panels were still new and expensive, decades before the technology became commonplace. It stands as evidence of how early adopters experimented with energy solutions well ahead of mainstream trends.