Look, up in the sky! Bell Works getting mammoth PV skylight

Photovoltaic, or PV, glass — which captures solar energy — appears to be the next addition to Somerset Development’s transformation of Bell Works. The firm has announced it has begun to install a skylight capable of converting solar energy to power parts of the building.Photovoltaic, or PV, glass — which captures solar energy — appears to be the next addition to Somerset Development’s transformation of Bell Works. The firm has announced it has begun to install a skylight capable of converting solar energy to power parts of the building.

“It’s appropriate, in terms of preserving not just the building, but some of the great innovation that was here. It’s appropriate for us to look at how can we utilize those things that made this a great place,” said Somerset Development President Ralph Zucker.

The one-time home of Bell Labs is where, in 1954, Daryl Chapin, Gerald Pearson and Calvin Fuller developed the first practical solar cell.

Somerset Development estimates the project to cost around $3.5 million. The installation of the 60,000 square feet of PV skylight is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year.

“It will provide approximately 15 percent of all the energy needed for the common areas,” said Zucker.

PV glass, unlike conventional solar panels, does not fully absorb all sunlight. Onyx Solar, the glass manufacturer and installer, said its PV glass will allow for 20 percent of visual light to pass through the glass — known as visual light transmittance — allowing for the remaining 80 percent of visual light to be converted to electricity.

“The photovoltaic glass will enhance Eero Saarinen’s unique aesthetic while maximizing energy efficiency in this expansive space,” said Diego Cuevas, vice president of business development for Onyx Solar.

Somerset expects the PV roof to produce 178 kilowatt hours of electricity during peak sunny times. The company hopes to use part of the electricity generated by the PV glass to power electric vehicle charging stations on the parking lots.

“We’re taking a historically significant building, an incredible masterpiece that it is, architecturally, and celebrating the innovations that were there, but we’re also bringing it into the 21^st century,” said Zucker.

The PV roofing project is part of a $200 million repositioning by Somerset Development. The company is redeveloping Bell Works as a mixed-use unit.

Currently, 60 percent of its office space component has been leased, with Colliers marketing 100,000 square feet of retail space.

“Leasing is on target, actually ahead of schedule, and it’s been robust and continuing, so it’s possible that within 12 months, we might be over 90 percent leased. It’s not unlikely,” said Zucker.

The 2 million-square-foot Bell Works sits on 472 acres.

Toll Brothers has begun the development of 40 single-family homes and 185 age-restricted townhomes on the property.