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
K-12 Schools | Aug 4, 2016
First Look: New Sandy Hook Elementary School blends safety and nature
The new Sandy Hook Elementary School has been carefully designed with state-of-the-art safety measures to keep students safe.
| Aug 1, 2016
K-12 SCHOOL GIANTS: In a new era of K-12 education, flexibility is crucial to design
Space flexibility is critical to classroom design. Spaces have to be adaptable, even allowing for drastic changes such as a doubling of classroom size.
| Aug 1, 2016
Top 80 K-12 School Construction Firms
Gilbane, Balfour Beatty, and Core Construction head Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest K-12 school sector construction and construction management firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 1, 2016
Top 60 K-12 School Engineering Firms
AECOM, Jacobs, and STV top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest K-12 school sector engineering and E/A firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
| Aug 1, 2016
Top 100 K-12 School Architecture Firms
DLR Group, Stantec, and Huckabee top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest K-12 school sector architecture and A/E firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
University Buildings | Jul 22, 2016
Fast-growing UC Merced will double in size by 2020
The state’s Board of Regents has approved a $1.34 billion plan that would add nearly 1.2 million sf of new space.
Education Facilities | Jun 1, 2016
Gensler reveals designs for 35-acre AltaSea Campus at the Port of Los Angeles
New and renovated facilities will help researchers, educators, and visitors better understand the ocean.
Education Facilities | Apr 22, 2016
Developers announce updates for Schuylkill Yards, Philadelphia’s new innovation hub
Drexel University's $3.5 billion project will have mixed-use buildings, residential spaces, and educational and research facilities.
Education Facilities | Mar 28, 2016
Steven Holl wins invited competition to design Rubenstein Commons
The new Rubenstein Commons will be a 20,000-sf structure at the center of the campus for the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.
Market Data | Feb 26, 2016
JLL upbeat about construction through 2016
Its latest report cautions about ongoing cost increases related to finding skilled laborers.