With sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu High School sits on a hillside on-quarter mile from Zuma Beach and the Pacific Coast Highway. The school’s new 35,000-square-foot classroom, library, and administration building will serve as an iconic gateway to the campus.
The existing school’s location in an environmentally sensitive area was of critical concern to the district and the design team. The community’s heightened awareness of the fragility of the coastal habitat was a guiding factor in creating a new facility that would be a sustainable laboratory for students and neighbors. Reinforcing this sustainable philosophy, the design connects students and faculty with their environment at every turn.
Thew new building echoes the contours of the native hillside. Planted green roofs provide outdoor learning spaces while improving building performance. Strategically placed skylights and floor-to-ceiling glazing provide an abundance of natural daylight and minimize energy consumption. Recycled aluminum panels shield the building from the western sun, preserve views, and invite daylight into classrooms. In addition, the primary mechanical system relies on radiant heating and natural ventilation for cooling.
Read the full feature in Learning By Design.