Four large wind turbines were being installed Saturday afternoon on the roof of the new Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market.

When it's completed sometime this summer, the building, at Pier 20 on the Halifax waterfront, will also feature solar panels, geothermal heating and a rooftop garden.

Designers of the structure say it's a unique opportunity to showcase environmental technologies.

"It's very exciting to be here because these are some of the first turbines to be put on a roof, and some of the sound deadening properties of the design make this a very unique project," said Sandy Hines of Seaforth Energy, builder of the turbines.

'It's rare to be allowed to build wind turbines like these ones right in the heart of the city'—Sandy Hines, Seaforth Energy

"It's rare to be allowed to build wind turbines like these ones right in the heart of the city," said Hines.

Permission was given because the structure is on federal government land that's zoned for industrial use, he said.

Each turbine has a radius of 3.7 metres. Ordinarily, they'd be installed on the ground, said Hines.

"It's a perfect marriage with a farmers' market," said Keith Tufts, the lead designer of the building. "These people understand how limited the resources are as farmers out in the field and they're not wasteful at all so it was a pretty easy sell to them.

"They are very proud of what they have here."

The market will be one of the most eco-friendly buildings in North America, Tufts said in an earlier CBC interview.

"We're basically using the sun, wind and earth to heat the building to a great extent," he said.

The walls will be covered with salvaged wood, and power will be supplied by solar panels and the rooftop turbines. The idea is to have a farmers' market with a near-zero carbon footprint, Tufts said.

The market is expected to cost $11.5 million, but proponents say operating costs will be minimal. It will be open six days a week.

The municipal, provincial and federal governments are paying for the project, along with local investors through a community economic development fund.

The new market is expected to open in late June or early July.