The transition to alternative energy has been and will be incremental, with societies slowly changing the way they power their lives. The Solar Outpost is a transitional step that makes clean energy available to anyone.

The Solar Outpost was designed by Uhuru Design and Third Partners sustainability consultants for Vice Media to sit on the roof garden of their Brooklyn office. The challenge was to provide a system that encouraged Vice employees to work or relax on while utilizing solar energy.

The Solar Outpost consists of a powder coated structural steel frame that utilizes bolted connections to allow for ease of transit and installation. Solar panels are mounted to the upper canopy and face due South at a near 30 degree angle in order to facilitate maximum yield. Wires run through the structural tubing and into one of benches that holds all batteries, inverters and other components.

We wanted the design to continue an urban narrative, so we used reclaimed lumber from a Brooklyn water tower to clad the table and benches. We took the material of an icon from NYC's past and used it to give form to an icon of a sustainable future.

There are six typical three prong outlets and four USB ports to charge any type of device. On an average day in NYC the Solar Outpost captures enough power to allow for twelve hours of continuos laptop charging, charge four tablets, twelve smartphones and keep two LED lights on overnight.

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