Fixed Skylights
Custom Engineered Skylight Systems for Large-Scale Commercial and Architectural Spaces.
OpenAire designs and engineers custom fixed skylights that bring natural daylight, openness, and architectural expression to commercial and institutional buildings. Our systems span openings far larger than typical skylight manufacturers can achieve, offering complete design flexibility and exceptional visual impact.
What Is a Fixed Skylight?
A fixed skylight is a permanently enclosed overhead glazing system designed to bring natural daylight into interior spaces while maintaining full weather protection, thermal performance, and architectural continuity. Unlike modular residential skylights or small commercial units, OpenAire’s fixed skylights are purpose-engineered for large spans and complex geometries, making them ideal for signature architectural features.
OpenAire designs skylights as integrated building systems, ensuring structural compatibility, water management, thermal performance, and long-term durability across all climates.
What This Service Includes
Every OpenAire fixed skylight is custom engineered, manufactured, and supported as a complete solution. Our team works directly with owners, architects, and structural engineers throughout the design and construction lifecycle.
Our fixed skylight services include:
Engineering & Design
Custom skylight geometry, structural engineering, and envelope integration tailored to span, shape, climate loads, and architectural intent. Full documentation is provided for architects, engineers, and contractors, ensuring seamless coordination with the building’s structure and drainage systems.
System Components
High-performance, thermally broken aluminum framing paired with glass, polycarbonate, ETFE, or photovoltaic infill options. All assemblies are engineered for long spans, controlled water management, airtight performance, and reliable long-term durability in any climate.
Fabrication & Installation
Precision in-house fabrication with coordinated field installation, alignment, and commissioning. OpenAire works directly with the project team to ensure the skylight integrates correctly with surrounding structure, roofing interfaces, and envelope details.
Support & Warranty
Long-term warranty coverage supported by responsive technical assistance. Optional inspection and maintenance programs help protect performance, water-tightness, and visual clarity over the life of the skylight system.
Where Fixed Skylights Are Used
Fixed skylights are installed across a wide range of commercial, retail, institutional, and public environments where natural daylight and architectural expression are priorities.
Retail flagships & experiential retail
Dramatic daylighting features that enhance brand presence and visitor experience.
Commercial atriums and office centers
Bringing daylight deep into multi-level buildings to improve aesthetics and occupant comfort.
Museums, galleries, and cultural buildings
Controlled daylight for curated environments.
Institutional & academic buildings
Skylights for libraries, student centers, and collaborative common areas.
Benefits of a Fixed Skylight
Fixed skylights enhance buildings by introducing abundant natural daylight, reducing energy consumption, and elevating architectural character. Unlike small modular skylights, OpenAire’s large-span custom systems are engineered for commercial and institutional environments that demand long-term performance, occupant comfort, and memorable spatial experience.
Natural Daylight & Visual Comfort
Fixed skylights bring daylight deep into interior spaces, reducing dependency on artificial lighting and improving visual comfort throughout the day. Daylighting supports circadian rhythms, enhances mood, and creates more engaging environments in retail, office, cultural, and public settings. Large transparent or translucent roof sections allow even, diffuse illumination that transforms how occupants experience a space.
Architectural Expression & Signature Design Features
Custom skylights serve as architectural focal points—framing the sky, defining circulation and gathering spaces, and enhancing the identity of commercial, retail, and cultural buildings. OpenAire’s ability to span exceptionally large openings enables bold design freedom not possible with standard skylight systems, supporting dramatic atriums, galleries, and signature entrances.
Energy Efficiency & Building Performance
Daylighting reduces electrical lighting loads, lowering operational energy use while supporting sustainability goals. Thermally broken aluminum framing, high-performance glazing, solar-control coatings, and optimized insulation values help maintain interior comfort across all climates. When paired with energy modeling or daylighting analysis, fixed skylights contribute meaningfully to LEED and other certification pathways.
Healthier Indoor Environments
Enhanced daylight exposure is directly tied to improved psychological wellbeing, productivity, and visitor satisfaction. In spaces such as retail centers, workplaces, educational environments, and public buildings, daylight improves wayfinding, reduces occupant fatigue, and contributes to a more welcoming atmosphere. Properly engineered skylight assemblies also reduce condensation risk and maintain comfortable interior conditions.
Design Flexibility Across Scales & Building Types
OpenAire fixed skylights can be engineered for virtually any geometry—rectilinear, curved, faceted, multi-slope, or custom architectural form. Whether spanning 20 ft or 200 ft, these systems adapt to complex structural conditions, unique rooflines, and the visual intent of the design team. This flexibility enables applications ranging from intimate retail features to expansive commercial atriums.
How Fixed Skylight Systems Work
OpenAire fixed skylights are engineered using high-performance aluminum framing systems designed to support large spans with minimal visual obstruction. Key components include:
- Thermally broken framing for insulation in all climates
- Structural aluminum profiles designed for custom spans
- High-performance glazing or specialty infills (glass, ETFE, polycarbonate, PV)
- Integrated water management & drainage systems
- Air and water-tight seals for long-term durability
The skylight system is fully fixed—no operable roof movement—but can integrate with operable walls or ventilation systems if required by the project.
OpenAire’s fixed skylights are custom-engineered for each project, with every system tailored to its specific form, span, climate, load requirements, and architectural intent. Designed to meet precise performance and design goals, these skylights adapt to the unique variables of each site while maintaining consistent structural integrity and aesthetic integration.
Proven Performance in Real-World Environments
OpenAire fixed skylights have been installed in high-visibility commercial, retail, and institutional buildings around the world. These projects demonstrate the scalability, architectural impact, and reliability of our custom systems.
Restoration Hardware (RH Gallery), Chicago
OpenAire designed and installed a 43′4″ square fixed glass skylight for the Restoration Hardware flagship in Chicago, bringing natural light into the historic Three Arts Club courtyard. The custom aluminum structure evokes traditional steel detailing while delivering modern thermal performance and UV protection. The skylight transforms the space into a year-round event and retail venue, enhancing the store’s signature experience.
The project earned the 2017 ULI Vision Award and the 2016 Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence.
Why Choose OpenAire
Selecting a fixed skylight partner requires more than choosing a glazing system—it requires confidence in engineering precision, long-term durability, architectural integration, and proven performance in high-visibility commercial environments. OpenAire brings decades of specialized expertise designing, engineering, and delivering large-span fixed skylight systems for retail, commercial, cultural, and public-facing facilities around the world.
Key reasons project teams choose OpenAire
- Decades of focused skylight and enclosure expertiseWith more than 1,300 completed projects globally, OpenAire is one of the most experienced providers of custom-engineered skylight, roof, and specialty glazing systems—delivering reliable performance across diverse climates, geometries, and building types.
- Proven performance in retail, atrium, and commercial venuesOpenAire fixed skylights operate daily in high-demand environments such as flagship retail stores, malls, corporate atriums, cultural spaces, and public concourses, demonstrating durability, weather-tight performance, and exceptional daylighting impact.
- Purpose-engineered systems—not prefabricated or modular kitsEvery fixed skylight is fully custom engineered for its span, shape, load conditions, climate zone, drainage requirements, and architectural intent. Nothing is off-the-shelf. Each component is designed specifically for the project to ensure structural compatibility and long-term resilience.
- Deep knowledge of daylighting, glazing, and building-envelope performanceOpenAire has extensive expertise in environments where daylighting quality, thermal behavior, solar control, condensation management, and envelope performance directly impact building comfort and operational outcomes.
- Collaborative integration with architects, engineers, and buildersFrom early feasibility and design development through fabrication, installation, and commissioning, OpenAire works closely with architects, engineers, contractors, and owners to ensure the skylight delivers on both design intent and performance goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fixed Skylights
These are common questions project teams ask when evaluating retractable roof skylights for commercial, aquatic, and community facilities.
What is the difference between a fixed skylight and an operable skylight?
Fixed skylights do not open and are engineered solely for daylighting, weather protection, and thermal performance. Operable skylights incorporate mechanical systems for ventilation or roof opening.
Can fixed skylights be designed for very large spans?
Yes. OpenAire specializes in skylights far larger than standard units, including spans of 100+ ft.
What glazing or infill options are available?
Glass, insulated glass units (IGUs), polycarbonate, ETFE, and photovoltaic infills can all be used depending on design requirements.
Are fixed skylights energy-efficient?
Yes. Thermally broken aluminum framing and high-performance glazing reduce heat transfer and lighting loads.
Can fixed skylights be added to existing buildings?
In many cases, yes. Structural conditions, load paths, and drainage are reviewed early to ensure compatibility.
What maintenance is required for fixed skylights?
Routine inspection of seals, drainage paths, and gasket integrity is typically sufficient. OpenAire’s aluminum systems are corrosion-resistant and low-maintenance.
Let’s Talk About Your Fixed Skylight Project
Every fixed skylight project starts with a conversation. OpenAire’s team can help you evaluate feasibility, design options, glazing strategies, and structural requirements.