TIME: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Description
Explore how solar carports transform overlooked and under-utilized spaces into high-performance architectural assets—merging aesthetics, utility, and future-ready design.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how solar carports can contribute to architectural form, not just function.
- Compare solar carport models and their integration within Ontario’s built environment.
- Identify structural and code coordination points critical to Ontario-specific carport design.
- Apply strategies from built case studies that combine solar with resilience, aesthetics, and technology.
Presenters:
Patrick Boot, Product Manager, VCT Group
Patrick Boot leads the Products division at VCT Group, a Canadian firm focused on solar energy systems for commercial and institutional applications. With an undergraduate degree in Industrial Design from Carleton University (2009), Patrick brings a design-rooted perspective to VCT’s product development—one that values both technical performance and contextual fit.
His current work focuses on solar carports as infrastructure that brings new life to under-utilized spaces like surface parking lots. These systems offer more than clean energy; they invite a rethinking of land use and site value. Patrick works closely with architects, engineers, and builders to deliver projects that support the renewable energy transition through well-integrated, site-conscious solutions.
Patrick’s approach emphasizes lifecycle thinking. Beyond design, he considers how systems are assembled, how they’re maintained, and how they age in place. Material selection, fabrication, and assembly methods are all shaped by a focus on durability, serviceability, and long-term performance. At the core of his work is a commitment to reducing complexity by designing systems that are intuitive and dependable without sacrificing architectural intent. He believes renewable energy infrastructure should do more than meet performance targets—it can enhance spatial quality, build resilience, and contribute to a built environment that is in better balance with the planet.
Through his work at VCT Group, Patrick contributes to advancing solar adoption in ways that are thoughtful, reliable, and responsive to the demands of the built environment.
Brian Unrau, President, VCT Group
Brian Unrau is President of VCT Group, a firm specializing in the integration of solar energy systems with the built environment. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, an MBA, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). With over 15 years of experience, Brian has led the design, engineering, and construction of solar PV systems across a wide range of architectural contexts, including commercial rooftops, solar-integrated façades, ground-mounted arrays, and architecturally expressive carports.
At VCT, Brian leads a multidisciplinary team that has delivered hundreds of solar projects across Ontario. The team manages the full project lifecycle—from contract origination and environmental approvals to detailed design, permitting, procurement, construction, and commissioning. This integrated approach is strengthened by Brian’s experience as an owner and operator of many of these systems, where VCT brings a long-term, performance-driven mindset to every project.
Brian also serves as President of Community Energy Development Co-operative (CED Co-op), which he co-founded in 2012. CED Co-op is an energy co-operative that enables community members to invest directly in clean energy projects. CED Co-op has grown into a national leader in community-financed renewable energy and continues to invest in solar infrastructure on schools, non-profits, and commercial buildings.
Brian’s work reflects a deep commitment to building-integrated sustainability, combining architectural sensitivity with technical performance. Whether through innovation in solar canopy systems or the deployment of rooftop arrays, he is passionate about helping buildings become high-performing contributors to a low-carbon future.
Pricing:
Licensed OAA Members: $42 + HST
OAA Interns and Students: $32 + HST
Non-Members: $62 + HST
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