When Daylight Becomes a Safety Standard
Glare on the water’s surface from overhead glazing can make it impossible for lifeguards to see a swimmer in distress. For a high school serving 2,100 students from 5:30am to 10pm, this isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a safety liability.
Project Details
|
 |
When Legat Architects was tasked with designing a new aquatics center for Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois, the primary goal was clear: improve safety for all pool users. The facility needed to serve 2,100 students and the wider community for over 16 hours a day, and every design decision had to prioritize the ability of lifeguards to see clearly into the water at all times.
This created a paradox. Natural daylight is essential for creating a healthy, welcoming, and energy-efficient aquatic environment. But traditional overhead glazing creates veiling reflections and blinding glare on the water’s surface — obscuring a lifeguard’s view and putting swimmers at risk.
The Four Design Challenges
Glare on the water’s surface from overhead glazing can make it impossible for lifeguards to see a swimmer in distress. Ensuring a glare-free view into the pool was a non-negotiable safety requirement.
Pools are harsh environments with constant humidity and airborne chemicals. The glazing had to offer high thermal insulation to control condensation and be durable enough to resist scratches and degradation over time.
Operating from 5:30am to 10pm daily for both students and the community meant the facility had to be exceptionally durable, functional, and energy-efficient.
The project was targeting LEED Gold certification, requiring a design that significantly reduced energy use compared to a standard building.
The Solution: A Curved Roof with Engineered Daylight Diffusion
The project team, working with consultants at Water Technology Inc., reviewed all glazing options — both glass and polycarbonate. They selected a glass-based system for its superior value, aesthetics, longevity, and scratch resistance. For the translucent glazing in the dramatic curved roof, they chose Solera® because it solved all four challenges simultaneously.
How Solera® Solved Every Challenge
The Proof: From LEED Gold to an Olympic Medalist’s Praise
|
44%
Energy Use Reduction
|
31.5%
Annual Energy Savings
|
LEED
Gold Certification
|
The Niles North High School Aquatic Center has become a well-known landmark in the community. At night, the curved roof glows and can be seen from the nearby highway — a beacon for the school and community. The space is heavily used by students throughout the day and by community members in the mornings, evenings, and weekends.
The Takeaway: Safety First, Daylight Second
For aquatic centers, safety isn’t negotiable. The right overhead daylighting solution enables lifeguards to see clearly while delivering energy savings, superior air quality, and a welcoming environment for swimmers.
The Niles North Aquatics Center proves that with engineered daylight diffusion, you can create facilities where safety and sustainability work together — where lifeguards have clear visibility, swimmers enjoy exceptional air quality, and the community gains a glowing landmark that inspires pride.
Architect: Legat Architects | Consultant: Water Technology Inc. | Product: Solera® | Photography: © Legat Architects
