Carpinteria Unified School District Brings Sustainable Daylight System Into the Modular Classroom
Key Highlights
- 24 Solatube TDDs provide full-spectrum natural light while controlling glare and minimizing solar heat gain.
- The daylighting system is compact and adaptable, fitting within tight modular ceiling cavities and requiring minimal roof penetration for easy installation.
- Integrated dimmers allow staff to adjust lighting levels, supporting various classroom activities and presentations.
- The design aligns with the district's sustainability goals by reducing electric lighting dependence and improving energy efficiency.
- The bright, natural environment promotes student well-being, concentration, and collaborative learning in a modern, modular setting.
As part of a $90 million districtwide infrastructure improvement bond, Carpinteria Unified School District planned a new modular learning center and library for the shared campus of Canalino Elementary School and Canalino Family School. Completed in 2024, the single-story, 2,400-sq.-ft. facility provides a flexible environment where students can explore books, collaborate, and participate in group instruction. The district partnered with American Modular Systems (AMS) to construct the 60-by-40-ft. building using the AMS GEN7 modular classroom design, adapted into an open-concept layout to support multiple learning activities.
The project team prioritized delivering abundant natural daylight throughout the GEN7 modular facility to create a bright, calming environment that encourages students to read and learn. The learning center required balanced, high-quality illumination to support visual acuity and concentration, while avoiding glare or shifting light patterns that could distract students during lessons. Any daylighting solution also needed to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Excess solar heat gain could create thermal hotspots that disrupt learning environments and increase HVAC demand.
Because the building was constructed using modular methods, the lighting strategy also had to accommodate the structural and logistical constraints of factory-built construction. Modular buildings typically feature tight plenum spaces and carefully engineered roof assemblies that limit large penetrations or bulky daylighting systems. The solution therefore needed to integrate efficiently within tight ceiling cavities while maintaining the structural integrity and weather resistance required for transportation and installation.
The district sought a daylighting approach that aligned with its sustainability goals—reducing reliance on electric lighting, improving energy efficiency, and supporting a healthy indoor environment for students and staff.
To provide consistent natural full-spectrum illumination throughout the modular facility, the project team installed 24 Solatube SolaMaster 750 DS tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) with integrated dimmers within the closed ceiling system. The optical design of the Solatube system helps control glare and eliminates shifting light patterns that can distract students during classroom activities. At the same time, the system limits solar heat gain, helping maintain comfortable interior temperatures without increasing HVAC demand.
The compact tubular design is well suited for modular construction. The TDDs fit within tight ceiling cavities and require minimal roof penetration, allowing the daylighting system to integrate efficiently into the factory-built GEN7 modular structure. Integrated daylight dimmers allow staff to adjust light levels as needed for presentations, reading activities, and other classroom uses.
The daylighting strategy created a bright, comfortable learning environment while supporting the district’s sustainability goals. The 24 Solatube TDDs distribute glare-controlled natural light throughout the interior, reducing dependence on electric lighting during the school day, and giving students from both Canalino Elementary School and Canalino Family School a healthy and productive place for reading, group learning, and collaborative instruction.
