By Jonathan McCulloch, CEO, Belgravia Group

Arizona has always been defined by sunlight. It shapes the landscape, the architecture, and the way communities grow. When Belgravia Group began designing Atavia, our new 88-unit luxury condominium community in North Scottsdale, we knew the clubhouse had to reflect the spirit of the desert, not just aesthetically, but environmentally. That meant adding solar panels to the building.

Choosing solar wasn’t simply a design decision. It was a commitment to building smarter, more sustainably, and in a way that aligns with how people want to live today. Across the country, municipalities are adopting updated energy codes encouraging builders to incorporate renewable energy or exceed baseline efficiency standards. Scottsdale is among those cities. The new energy code requires you to incorporate efficiency improvements, like solar, into a building to demonstrate a reduction in energy usage. For Atavia, solar made sense, not just because of the code, but because Arizona’s abundant sunshine makes it one of the most logical places in the country to harness solar power.

Coming from Chicago, where tall, narrow buildings can limit rooftop solar potential, Arizona felt like an opportunity. Belgravia Group installed solar panels on its Chicago office nearly a decade ago, both to be a responsible steward of energy resources and to evaluate the technology for potential use in future projects. Being in Arizona, with abundant sunshine and more roof space, this is an opportunity for us to use solar.

Solar has enormous potential, but traditional panels often clash with architectural design. At Atavia, our clubhouse was inspired by the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West with sloped beams, expressive angles, and wood-look stucco that blends into the desert palette. We didn’t want to compromise that design by adding traditional rectangular panels on the roof. We searched for a solution that could meet both our sustainability goals and our architectural vision.

That’s when we discovered SunStyle photovoltaic shingles. This is a low-profile solar roofing system that resembles overlapping dragon-scale tiles. These shingles don’t sit on top of the roof; they are the roof. They integrate into the structure, becoming part of the design rather than an afterthought. We didn’t want to take something away from the architecture. If anything, we think these unique solar shingles make it more visually interesting. This will be the first installation of these solar shingles in Arizona, a milestone that reflects both innovation and the region’s growing appetite for renewable energy solutions.

Solar isn’t just about aesthetics or environmental responsibility. It’s about real, tangible benefits for the people who live in Atavia. The clubhouse’s solar roof is estimated to generate 55,000 kWh annually, enough to cover most of the energy demands of the entire clubhouse building. That means lower operating costs and long-term savings for residents. Solar reduces reliance on the grid, stabilizes energy costs, and provides a buffer against rising utility rates. And importantly, it demonstrates what’s possible when solar is thoughtfully integrated into community design.

Arizona’s rapid growth is reshaping the Valley with new communities, commercial districts, and infrastructure, and that momentum carries a responsibility to build in ways that respect the environment, conserve resources, and create long-term value. Solar is one of the strongest tools to meet that responsibility, reducing carbon emissions, easing grid strain during peak heat, and aligning naturally with the climate advantages of the Southwest so buildings can live sustainably. 

When solar is designed as an architectural feature rather than something to hide, adoption rises. People see it, understand it, and want it. The visibility of solar shingles reinforces that solar doesn’t need to be an afterthought. 

Atavia’s clubhouse embodies that idea, proving that communities can embrace renewable energy without sacrificing beauty, craftsmanship, or luxury, and showing how sustainability and design can coexist and even elevate one another. Arizona deserves buildings that reflect its landscape, its sunlight, and its future, and Atavia is proud to help lead the way.

Jonathan McCulloch joined Belgravia Group 22 years ago and worked his way up from project assistant to CEO. He now oversees the company’s expansion into Arizona with a focus on thoughtful design, sustainability, and architecturally distinctive residential communities.

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