California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA

Founded in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney, the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a pioneering center for cross-disciplinary arts education. With six schools spanning visual, performing, media, and literary arts, CalArts is known for its radical pedagogy, individualized mentorship, and commitment to equity, experimentation, and social imagination. Through initiatives like REDCAT and the Community Arts Partnership, the Institute sustains deep engagement with the broader Los Angeles community and reimagines the role of artists as cultural and civic leaders.

As part of its broader institutional focus on long-term sustainability, CalArts is embarking on the first phase of an ambitious renovation of the Edythe and Eli Broad Studios—its graduate painting studios and one of the most iconic architectural features on campus. Designed by architect Jeffrey Daniels, FAIA, the Broad Studios form a non-hierarchical, village-like cluster that reflects CalArts’ progressive ethos. This project will introduce new windows and lighting systems across ten individual studios to reduce light exposure, improve air circulation, and minimize energy consumption. The improvements build on a 2023 FCI Technical Assistance grant and are part of a multiyear plan to transition key arts spaces to climate-conscious operations. The upgrades will support Scope 2 emissions reduction goals and align with the Institute’s Strategic Framework and IDEA initiatives, reinforcing CalArts’ commitment to environmental stewardship, artistic innovation, and the wellbeing of its students.

Milestones
• Replace clerestory windows and interior fixtures in ten graduate painting studios
• Introduce motion-sensor LED lighting and improved air circulation to reduce energy usage
• Reduce operational costs and Scope 2 emissions across art and gallery spaces
• Strengthen CalArts’ ability to pursue campus-wide emissions reductions through phased upgrades
• Reinforce the Broad Studios’ architectural legacy as a symbol of equitable, sustainable design