Linda Vista Teen Center
Building Type: Community

The Linda Vista Teen Center in San Diego, CA opened in January 2006 as a positive destination for adolescents. The center provides assistance with schoolwork, as well as serves as a community resource for health education and disease prevention, employment, entrepreneurship, healthcare access and computer literacy. The facility includes a technology center, performing arts center, sound studio and game room.

Objective
The purpose of the project was to utilize daylight to create a better and brighter learning environment for the teens and to reduce electric lighting energy consumption.

Products Used

Solution
The entire building was fitted with Solatube Daylighting Systems with the idea of brightening up the space, while reducing electricity consumption by displacing the need for the electric lights during daylight hours. The use of the Solatube Daylighting Systems also balances the interior light levels with the daylight outside, establishing glare-free views through the perimeter windows. The color of the paint was chosen for is its brilliance and with the natural daylight coming through, people can see the true colors chosen for the Teen Center.

Testimonial
“The Teen Center is definitely a calmer place as a result of the soothing natural light that enters through the Solatube Daylighting Systems overhead. It’s hard to believe that calmness and teenagers can be used in the same sentence, but here at the Teen Center, that is the case. The natural lighting is preferred by the teens. In fact, I am constantly scolded by the teens for disturbing their tranquil setting by adjusting the unnatural lighting in the room. I am not kidding; there are light switches in the building that are not used. We feel fortunate to have a building that is so conducive to growth and development. The teens under these positive conditions really excel.”

Phillip Sammuli
Linda Vista Teen Center
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego