Located in the Santa Monica Mountains in Calabasas, California, the MUSE School is an internationally recognized, award-winning holistic private school, serving preschool to 12th grade students. The school incorporates student-centered learning with an underlying environmental philosophy that infuses all aspects of the school’s instruction and character.
Sustainability is one of the school’s top values, and every aspect of the design and construction was focused on green materials and recycled elements to meet its zero-waste strategy and net-zero energy goal. One of the biggest challenges for the project was finding a carbon-free daylighting source that would provide enough natural light to eliminate the use of artificial lights throughout the day without making the school hot.
To achieve the net-zero goal, Cameron hired Ecovations Lifestyle Inc., a design and architectural firm with a history of projects centered around lifestyle education, building performance, health, carbon reduction, zero waste and resource conservation.
In keeping with its focus on conservation and the environment, Ecovations used 56 Solatube Daylighting Systems throughout the buildings and 22-acre campus to reduce the need for artificial lighting throughout the day. Forty-one Brighten Up Series 290 DS units and 15 SolaMaster Series 750-DS-O units were used to pipe optimal amounts of pure, natural light indoors with minimal heat gain.
Through the carefully planned daylighting design, the Muse school is now brimming with beautiful, diffused daylight in every classroom, inspiring students and creating a better, healthier learning environment.
MUSE founder Suzy Amis Cameron explained the results.
“We use Solatube Daylighting Systems that provide natural light to brighten up our classrooms, and you know what? We absolutely love them. You will look around, and it will be bright inside, and no electric lights will be turned on at all. The Solatubes use zero electricity and emit no CO2. Carbon-free lighting takes us one step closer to our net zero energy goal.”
Solatube Daylighting Systems also help promote and share the school’s mission.
“The Solatube Daylighting Systems make a more pleasant study and work environment that only natural daylight can bring. And it truly encourages a feeling of well-being for the student and our teachers,” Cameron says. “We believe that classroom designs strongly affect learning and achievement, and by bringing in natural light, we can improve the quality of life for our community.”
