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
| Jan 7, 2015
4 audacious projects that could transform Houston
Converting the Astrodome to an urban farm and public park is one of the proposals on the table in Houston, according to news site Houston CultureMap.
| Jan 6, 2015
Snøhetta unveils design proposal of the Barack Obama Presidential Center Library for the University of Hawaii
The plan by Snøhetta and WCIT Architecture features a building that appears square from the outside, but opens at one corner into a rounded courtyard with a pool, Dezeen reports.
| Jan 2, 2015
Construction put in place enjoyed healthy gains in 2014
Construction consultant FMI foresees—with some caveats—continuing growth in the office, lodging, and manufacturing sectors. But funding uncertainties raise red flags in education and healthcare.
BIM and Information Technology | Dec 28, 2014
The Big Data revolution: How data-driven design is transforming project planning
There are literally hundreds of applications for deep analytics in planning and design projects, not to mention the many benefits for construction teams, building owners, and facility managers. We profile some early successful applications.
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy
Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Dec 17, 2014
USGBC announces 2014 Best of Green Schools honorees
Houston's Monarch School was named the K-12 school of the year, and Western Michigan University was honored as the top higher-ed institution, based on environmental programs and education efforts.
| Dec 15, 2014
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture launches fundraising campaign for independent incorporation
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced today that it approved a possible path toward independent incorporation of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture by raising $2 million before the end of 2015.
| Dec 1, 2014
How public-private partnerships can help with public building projects
Minimizing lifecycle costs and transferring risk to the private sector are among the benefits to applying the P3 project delivery model on public building projects, according to experts from Skanska USA.
| Nov 25, 2014
Behnisch Architekten unveils design for energy-positive building in Boston
The multi-use building for Artists For Humanity that is slated to be the largest energy positive commercial building in New England.
| Nov 18, 2014
New tool helps developers, contractors identify geographic risk for construction
The new interactive tool from Aon Risk Solutions provides real-time updates pertaining to the risk climate of municipalities across the U.S.
