Marsha Maytum, principal of Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects concurs: “Getting enough light in a room is often less of a challenge. We’re interested in optimizing visual comfort.” In addition to carefully choosing surface finishes and orienting the openings, she points to solutions such as designing thin floor plates, daylighting from multiple sides to produce even light levels, and strategically using solar-control products. Demonstrating these tactics, Jacobs Institute at UC Berkeley features a glazed south elevation paired with a custom system of 42-inch-deep horizontal shading louvers. And the building’s east-west–oriented public spaces provide views but still minimize glare and solar heat gain via 6-inch-deep Aerolite vertical blades.

Ultimately, both firms emphasize that designers should consider the specific uses and activities of each school space in addition to orientation toward the sun to determine how best to harness and direct daylight. “The responsibility of the design team is to provide an appropriate solution for the space’s intended use,” says Maytum. “It’s counterproductive to provide a well-designed, day-lit space if those using it are going to close the shades and turn on artificial lights for the duration of the class.”