by Magic Sun, Associate ASLA
Each morning on my way to the office, I cross the SE Washington Avenue Bridge—one of the key links between the University of Minnesota’s East and West Bank campuses, stretching over the Mississippi River into downtown Minneapolis. As I land on the West Bank, a glint of solar panels tucked behind some understated modern buildings always catches my eye.
Today, it’s common to see solar panels included in design proposals—often added as a “green” feature to signal sustainability. But in practice, especially in urban settings, stand-alone solar projects still feel out of reach. Cost and efficiency concerns have long driven solar development toward large, remote installations. Meanwhile, in cities—where most energy is actually used—we have thousands of underutilized spaces: parking lots, rooftops, vacant parcels. Many serve only a single purpose, or none at all.
What if we brought solar energy production closer to where people live and work? Could solar installations be more human-scaled—designed to blend seamlessly into our daily surroundings? Can we reimagine urban land not just as space for buildings, but as a viable source of clean, local energy?
With these questions in mind, I reached out to a team at the University of Minnesota (UMN) to gain insights from those directly involved in developing and implementing solar projects on campus. Around the table were:
- Kate Nelson, Director of Campus Sustainability,
- Jim Kochevar, Assistant Director of Utilities Operations,
- Mike Richardson, Senior Campus Planner, and
- Tom Ritzer, ASLA, Assistant Director for Landcare and the Campus Landscape Architect
Each plays a key role in making campus solar projects a reality.
1. Setting Solar Goals for an Urban Campus
Solar-on-campus is a key part of the UMN Twin Cities Climate Action Plan, released in May 2023. Since most of the University’s emissions come from heating and powering buildings, there’s a strong push to use renewable energy wherever possible. As of 2023, about 5% of the University’s total energy use comes from renewable sources, including both purchased and on-site generation. On-site solar is growing steadily as technology becomes more efficient.
The solar energy goal isn’t set in isolation—it supports the broader science-based targets and emissions reduction strategies in the Climate Action Plan. For the sustainability team, progress is like “playing chess”—if one area falls behind, another must step up to stay on track. Because solar is seen as a “shovel-ready” solution—mature and immediately actionable—the University is using it as a “go-to solution” for achieving its sustainability goals.
Current on-campus solar capacity stands at 2 MW, with a goal of reaching 6 MW by 2033 and a long-term target of 12 MW. To put that into perspective, 1 MW of power can supply electricity to approximately 750 to 1,000 American homes at a given time. UMN’s solar goal is ambitious—achieving this scale of renewable energy generation in an urban environment is exceptionally rare due to space and infrastructure challenges.
2. Finding the Right Place for Solar, Together
At first glance, it might seem like there are plenty of places on campus to install solar arrays. But in reality, finding a location that can be committed to long-term use requires a tremendous amount of coordination.
“If we were looking at impacting one of the districts—whether by giving them a showpiece or a burden—we wanted to involve them in that conversation,” said Jim Kochevar. This led to a large group of stakeholders being involved, including representatives from sustainability, energy management, electric utilities, campus planning, land care, environmental health and safety, and others, depending on the specific needs of each project.
The process began with a comprehensive inventory of 72 potential sites, evaluated internally by the university team. As Mike Richardson explained, “The way the project was structured reduced the chances for disagreement, because everyone was on board, contributing to a full list of possibilities before whittling it down.” The team collaboratively developed selection criteria based on half a dozen key topics. The criteria for each site were evaluated on a four-point scale for each topic: no-go, negative (-1), neutral (0), and positive (+1). Energy management experts were often the first to flag sites as technically unfeasible. Across the criteria, some sites stood out with strong positive attributes, while others were ruled out early. This structured, collaborative approach ultimately led the team to identify a shortlist of top candidate sites for solar development.
For the campus planner, making recommendations for a diverse portfolio of buildings and spaces—each at a different stage of use, condition, or future change—requires a broad, long-term perspective. They must balance current feasibility with future development to make smart decisions about expanding the number of solar arrays. It’s not just about location, but also about timing: aligning solar installations with planned construction, renovation, or demolition is a key part of effective planning.
For energy managers and utilities engineers, several technical considerations come into play. One of the most important is site capacity, including the size of the site and its energy production potential. Structural support is also critical: rooftops may need reinforcement to bear the added weight, and ground-mounted systems require the floor suitable for drilling. Access to existing utility infrastructure is another key factor, as solar arrays must align with the electrical grid and meet demand. In urban areas, it is wise to take advantage of existing utility connections before considering sites without infrastructure, as the latter often results in high costs and can render a project impractical.
For campus landscape architects and natural resource managers, concerns about the preservation of trees and the value of green space must be balanced with the potential benefits from solar infrastructure. As Tom Ritzer noted, “If it’s the best scenario to remove the trees, that’s OK—but I think everyone needs to understand the trade-offs.” A useful topic to explore is how to restore habitats and eco-services after installing solar panels, especially with a design that allows for safe and easy land care.
The solar project team isn’t a closed-off group—faculty and students are involved too, creating opportunities for learning and creative thinking. In an early-stage project to build solar arrays on agricultural land at the St. Paul campus, the team includes mechanical engineers getting the chance to talk with animal husbandry experts about how solar arrays might support both livestock and crops. It might seem like an unusual mix of people, but this kind of collaboration often sparks fresh research ideas and innovation.
3. Discussion: Balancing Multiple Objectives and Operational Realities
Site Size: Big vs. Small
As a designer, I often imagine ways to integrate solar panels into site elements like shade structures or outdoor furniture. It’s definitely possible, but there are a few practical challenges. From an engineering perspective, smaller installations require more complex wiring and extra equipment. From the utility operation side, small systems mean more to manage and more staff needed. Right now on the UMN campus, larger, centralized solar arrays are the go-to solution. But as space runs out, the team is willing to start looking at leftover areas like transitways and alley walks. Modular systems and movable installations could be creative options worth exploring.
Site Type: Rooftop vs. Parking Lot vs. Green Open Space
“The idea of having multiple uses in the same space was part of our thinking, and we wanted to do that as much as possible,” said Mike Richardson. Rooftops and parking lots are therefore appealing site types for solar arrays, as they have minimal impact on existing uses while still providing the benefits of energy production. Building-integrated solutions—such as rooftop or façade installations—are typically the most cost-effective, since they avoid the added costs of constructing standalone support structures, drilling, and potential conflicts with existing utility systems. However, these solutions require more upfront planning and the integration of sustainability goals from the very beginning of a new project.
Green open space might seem like another good option for solar arrays, but in reality, it’s rarer than we think. In urban areas, green space is a highly valued resource—for its ecological benefits, visual appeal, and recreational use. From a design perspective, it’s still a challenge to fully integrate solar panels into the landscape network. People are often hesitant about developing solar on these spaces. On top of that, many seemingly “vacant” green areas may have complex underground utility systems, making construction difficult or even unfeasible.
“Every site is unique and requires an open-minded, case-by-case approach,” suggested Tom Ritzer. Each solar project has the potential to be part of a larger system (ecological, social, operational, etc.) beyond just energy production. That’s why systems thinking is so valuable: it can lead to more thoughtful and effective integration.
4. From Campus to Community: Planning and Policy Insights
As Kate Nelson proudly pointed out, solar projects are among the most visible forms of climate action—showcasing the University’s strong commitment to sustainability. UMN’s solar experience will offer valuable lessons not just for campus planners, but also for communities and municipalities seeking solar development.
In conclusion, there are five takeaways for land use and municipal planning:
- Municipalities should include a solar site inventory in their smart city plans, backed by better data collection.
- Encourage zoning and design standards that support integration with existing infrastructure and multi-use spaces.
- Incorporate solar planning into building codes and early planning stages, ensuring alignment with broader goals in sustainability, infrastructure, and open space systems.
- Engage interdisciplinary voices and community input early in the planning process.
- Address maintenance and operations from the start to ensure long-term safety and feasibility.
Magic Sun, Associate ASLA, is a recent graduate from Harvard Graduate School of Design with a strong interest in sustainable design, striving to create meaningful change toward a low-carbon society at both strategic and practical levels. She enjoys using digital tools for research and cross-disciplinary work. Since 2023, she has been a project designer at Coen+Partners.
For more about Magic, see her previous post for The Field, Landscape-Based Approaches to Arid Photovoltaic Systems, and her Voices of Women in Landscape Architecture profile.