NC State Solar House
The Engineering Place at the NC State Solar House and Garage Classroom is an authentic research and K-20 educational facility showcasing clean, reusable, energy-efficient living on NC State’s Main Campus.
This 4,000-square-foot complex offers a unique place for students, parents, teachers, and the public to learn and experience smart sustainable technologies through house tours and hands-on engineering activities. We can work with your student group to customize an event to meet your educational needs!
The Solar House is operated by The Engineering Place at the College of Engineering and is located at 1201 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606, next to the McKimmon Conference Center.
The primary purpose of the Solar House is STEM education and outreach; anyone looking for information on solar home construction or personal home improvements should contact the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. If you have questions, please email us at coe-theengineeringplace@ncsu.edu
K-12 classes, join us at the NC State Solar House!
Visit us to tour the house & complete an energy-focused engineering challenge!
| Event Date | Event | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, November 10 | K-12 Classroom Visit | FILLED |
| Thursday, January 26 | K-12 Classroom Visit | ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS |
| Friday, March 24 | Special Solar House Event | ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS |
| Tuesday, April 18 | K-12 Classroom Visit | ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS |
The Engineering Place is offering two different types of events at the Solar House this academic year.
The Solar House Classroom events include a tour of the Solar House and its sustainable technologies followed by a grade-appropriate, open-ended, hands-on K-12 engineering challenge that has been mapped to the NC Educational Standards.
At the Special Solar House event, we will provide multiple engineering stations for students to explore the science and engineering behind specific challenges or demonstrations. There will not be a formal classroom activity conducted at this event, only demos, and house tours.
Applying for the event does not guarantee selection to attend. We will inform you of your selection status at least one month prior to the event. Seating is limited to 35 students per time slot. Parking is free and available.
Solar House Virtual Tour
Watch our video of the Solar House under construction in 1981!
Dedicated and opened to the public in 1981, the Solar House at NC State University is one of the most visible and visited solar buildings in the state and the nation. Over the last two decades, more than 300,000 people from around the world have toured the facility.
This video was pulled together using photos that were taken during the construction of the house.