Edmonton Tower Wins Record for Largest Solar Panel Art

What was once a run-down apartment tower in Edmonton's Chinatown is now a world record holder and a beacon of sustainable design. The 12-story SunRise building features a massive 379-square-meter solar panel mural that generates clean energy while honoring both Indigenous and Chinese communities.

The transformation took 16 months and $28 million, with funding from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Avenue Living, the real estate company behind the project, set an ambitious goal to cut the building's emissions by 64 percent and achieved it.

The solar panels covering the building now offset 493 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. That's enough clean energy to power 758 average homes for a year. The retrofit also included heat-recovery ventilation, high-efficiency boilers, and added insulation to maximize energy savings.

Local Indigenous artist Lance Cardinal designed the record-breaking mural, titled The Land We Share. On one side, the 12 Chinese zodiac animals represent the building's location in Chinatown. On the other, seven First Nations sacred-teaching animals honor Indigenous roots. The colorful design has become an instant city landmark.

The colored panels in the mural are 30 percent less efficient than standard solar panels due to their pigmentation. But the team decided the cultural impact and visual beauty were worth the tradeoff. The rest of the building sports traditional black solar panels for maximum energy production.

The Ripple Effect

The SunRise retrofit shows how aging buildings can become sustainability showcases without demolition. By reusing the existing concrete foundation, the team saved significant time, money, and embodied carbon compared to new construction. The building now features modern amenities including a fitness center, community kitchen, and commercial spaces on the ground floor.

The project also represents a growing movement across Canada. From Winnipeg's We Are All Related mural to the University of Toronto's Daniels Mural Project, public art is increasingly celebrating Indigenous wisdom and cultural diversity. These installations create shared spaces that acknowledge history while building community connections.

The federal Building Retrofits Initiative requires projects to cut emissions by at least 30 percent to qualify for funding. Buildings that exceed 50 percent reductions receive the best loan terms. SunRise's 64 percent achievement demonstrates what's possible when developers aim higher than minimum requirements.

The world record announcement came in July 2025, putting Edmonton on the global map for sustainable architecture. The tower that was nearly condemned now stands as proof that old buildings can teach new tricks.