Delivering a Net-Zero Energy Gym

By Mark Olsen

From the outset, the complexity of the site shaped the design of Malibu Middle School’s gym, which is set against a nearly 20-foot grade change. The integrated LPA team — a collaboration between Irvine, San Diego and San Jose studios — studied the movement of students across the campus, and different strategies for incorporating the multilevel building to enhance student life. Designing the gym to operate at net zero energy was also one of the district’s goals.

Given Malibu’s reliable coastal breezes, designers prioritized natural ventilation, integrating large openings, tubular skylights and ceiling fans to keep the space comfortable without relying heavily on mechanical cooling. “Mixed-mode ventilation is available almost year-round,” says mechanical engineer Doug Seamark, who led HVAC strategy. Height restrictions and the building’s embedded footprint ruled out packaged rooftop units, steering them toward creation of an all-electric central campus central plant powered by an air-source heat pump.

The roof was left clear for photovoltaic panels, allowing engineers to design a system to offset 100% of the modeled annual energy use. Throughout the process, the integrated team used performance modeling to refine the design from daylighting to energy efficiency. “Early planning and a strong client partnership can help us anticipate needs decades out and design a future-ready space,” Design Director Ozzie Tapia says. “This is a great example of what integrated design can do.”