All Saints Academy in Dunstable was designed as a contemporary educational facility focused on creating a bright, comfortable and inspiring learning environment. Architects Lyster Grillet & Harding placed strong emphasis on maximising natural daylight throughout the building to support student wellbeing, improve concentration and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.

While the central atrium created a strong daylight focal point, maintaining the same sense of openness and brightness within internal teaching spaces presented a significant design challenge. Many classrooms were positioned away from direct roof access, requiring an alternative daylighting strategy capable of delivering consistent light quality throughout the building.

Challenge

The project required natural daylight to be transported from roof level down into internal classrooms located up to two storeys below. Routing the system through the building proved complex, as ceiling voids and wall cavities were already accommodating ventilation ductwork, electrical services and other building infrastructure.

Limited space restrictions meant system sizing had to be carefully considered, while multiple bends and extended tube runs were unavoidable. Despite these constraints, the daylighting solution still needed to achieve the architects’ required performance standards while supporting the project’s sustainability objectives and preserving the overall design intent.

Solution

Solatube Daylighting Systems were selected for their ability to efficiently transfer natural daylight over long distances while maintaining excellent light quality. The project utilised the Solatube Brighten Up® 290 DS system, a 350 mm diameter tubular daylighting solution specifically designed to channel daylight from roof level into internal classrooms located deep within the building.

The systems were carefully routed through ceiling voids alongside existing building services, requiring a number of bends and extended tubing runs. Using highly reflective Spectralight® tubing technology, daylight could still be delivered effectively despite the complex routing conditions. This enabled the architects to achieve their daylighting goals without compromising architectural design or energy performance targets.

Results

The installation successfully introduced natural daylight into interior teaching spaces that would otherwise have relied heavily on artificial lighting throughout the day. As a result, classrooms now benefit from a brighter and more comfortable learning environment, supporting student wellbeing while contributing to reduced daytime energy consumption.

The daylighting solution also helped maintain the open and welcoming atmosphere originally envisioned by the architects, reinforcing the Academy’s commitment to sustainability and high-quality educational spaces.

Conclusion

The All Saints Academy project demonstrates how Solatube daylighting systems can overcome complex architectural and structural challenges to deliver natural daylight deep into buildings. By combining performance, flexibility and energy efficiency, the solution helped create a more engaging educational environment while supporting long-term sustainability objectives.

The project also highlights the importance of integrating daylighting solutions early in the design process, helping ensure both environmental and aesthetic goals can be achieved without compromise.

Project Details

Client: All Saints Academy, Dunstable, UK
Product: Solatube Brighten Up® 290 DS (350 mm diameter system)
Solatube Distributor: Solalighting Limited
Architect of Record: Lyster Grillet & Harding (LGH)
General Contractor: Solalighting Limited