In Malibu, Calif., a city known for beaches, surf, and sun, HMC Architects wanted to give Malibu High School a new building that harmonizes environment and education. With a focus on a sustainable and healthy learning environment, Malibu High School’s new Classroom, Library, and Administration Building, completed last year, emphasizes both energy efficiency and optimal learning environments.
On the campus’ hillside location, the new two-story building spans the entire front of the campus. At almost 46,000 square feet, the building includes a variety of features intended to foster the connection of students and staff with their surroundings. The structure includes a green roof, an outdoor demonstration garden, abundant glazing and daylighting, photovoltaic canopies, and sunshade devices. Operable windows, heated floors, and solar tubes, as well as protective overhangs and vertical shading fins, reduce the dependence on mechanical and electrical systems while promoting optimal learning environments. The green roof and landscaping concepts also improve building performance, manage storm runoff, and provide outdoor teaching areas.
A two-level administration wing anchors the new main campus entry, serving the public at its lower entry and students at the main level. The library frames a secondary campus entry with the existing theater building, bolstering shared public use of these two programs. New classrooms and labs are located on the courtyard and upper level, along with a demonstration roof garden that serves both students and the community. Glazing throughout the building is protected by exterior circulation arcades with sunshades, creating physical and visual connections with the outdoors for students and staff.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Design architect: HMC Architects
Architect of record: HMC Architects
MEP engineer: GLUMAC
Structural engineer: IMEG Corporation
General contractor/construction manager: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
Related Stories
Mass Timber | Aug 30, 2022
Mass timber construction in 2022: From fringe to mainstream
Two Timberlab executives discuss the market for mass timber construction and their company's marketing and manufacturing strategies. Sam Dicke, Business Development Manager, and Erica Spiritos, Director of Preconstruction, Timberlab, speak with BD+C's John Caulfield.
University Buildings | Aug 25, 2022
Higher education, striving for ‘normal’ again, puts student needs at the center of project planning
Sustainability and design flexibility are what higher education clients are seeking consistently, according to the dozen AEC Giants contacted for this article. “University campuses across North America are commissioning new construction projects designed to make existing buildings and energy systems more sustainable, and are building new flexible learning space that bridge the gap between remote and in-person learning,” say Patrick McCafferty, Arup’s Education Business Leader–Americas East region, and Matt Humphries, Education Business Leader in Canada region.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 70 Science + Technology Facility Contractors + CM Firms 2022
Whiting-Turner, Hensel Phelps, DPR Construction, and Skanska USA top the rankings of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) facility contractors and construction management (CM) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 70 Science + Technology Facility Engineering + EA Firms 2022
Jacobs, CRB, Fluor, and Affiliated Engineers Inc. head the rankings of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 100 Science + Technology Facility Architecture + AE Firms 2022
HDR, Flad Architects, Gensler, and DGA top the rankings of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 45 Laboratory Facility Contractors and Construction Management Firms for 2022
Whiting-Turner, Hensel Phelps, McCarthy, and STO Building Group top the ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) laboratory facility contractors and construction management (CM) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 55 Laboratory Facility Engineering + EA Firms for 2022
Jacobs, Affiliated Engineers Inc., Burns & McDonnell, and WSP top the ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) laboratory facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 85 Laboratory Facility Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Flad Architects, HDR, DGA, and Payette top the ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) laboratory facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 90 University Contractors and Construction Management Firms for 2022
Turner Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting, PCL Construction Enterprises, and DPR Construction lead the ranking of the nation's largest university sector contractors and construction management (CM) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 85 University Engineering + EA Firms for 2022
AECOM, Jacobs, Salas O'Brien, and IMEG head the ranking of the nation's largest university sector engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
