Commercial Architecture May 2019 - 26

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PROJECT

| interiors

Operable glass-wall systems allow architects and
designers to create flexible, enclosed spaces that
allow natural light transmission.

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* Harvard Univ., harvard.edu
* International WELL Building Institute,
wellcertified.com
* Institute of Medicine, ihi.org
* National Public Radio, npr.org
* Forbes magazine, forbesmagazine.com

26

MAY 2019

office combines private offices, cubicle banks, and open floor

without distraction, accurately communicate sensitive informa-

plans, as well as communal areas and soundproof rooms where

tion, clarify ideas, focus, and re-charge, and can even reduce sick

employees can concentrate. Opening glass-wall systems allow a

days. Opening glass-wall systems can provide employees with vi-

smaller footprint with more multifunctional, sound-controlled

sual privacy through custom solutions such as switchable glass that

office enclosures and meeting rooms while reducing the need for

can go from clear to opaque at the touch of a button, art glass, and

extraneous dedicated rooms that serve only one function.

easy-to-operate shades.

* Light. One surefire way to construct a flourishing office envi-

* Sound. National Public Radio (NPR), Washington, reports that

ronment is to consult the International WELL Building Institute,

noise made by one's co-workers is rated as the number one distrac-

New York, standard. According to this standard, lighting has a

tion in office environments, citing that as many as 74% of workers

substantial impact. A thriving workplace should enhance produc-

complain about distractions at work, lowering productivity and

tivity, provide visual acuity, and minimize circadian-rhythm dis-

worker morale. Open-concept, collaborative spaces facilitate a

ruption. The Institute of Medicine, Boston, reports that about

higher volume of distracting sounds and do not provide the sound

50- to 70-million U. S. adults have a chronic sleep or wakefulness

barriers needed for enhanced productivity.

disorder, and with people spending most of their waking hours

Operable glass-wall systems offer an efficient way to create

indoors, improper lighting design and insufficient natural light

flexible, multi-use spaces with built-in sound protection. Many

can lead to negative physiological responses resulting in poor sleep

companies offer folding, sliding, and all-glass wall systems with

and other health concerns.

sound transmission class (STC) ratings of as much as 45 to suit

Operable glass-wall systems allow architects and designers to

varying office sound requirements and which reduce loud conver-

create flexible enclosed spaces that allow natural light transmis-

sations to normal levels of speech and even to a quiet murmur. As

sion. This has positive effects on stress reduction, cognitive per-

the Forbes study notes, all the whirs, clicks, and taps combined

formance, sleep, concentration, and overall mood. Whether open

with office chatter can add up and create a noisy environment

or closed, the transparent nature of an opening glass-wall system

that makes productivity nearly impossible. Operable-glass walls

ensures greater diffusion of natural light within the space.

serve as great acoustical barriers when closed, then glide off into a

* Privacy. Privacy, like collaboration, is essential for workplace

corner to permit a once enclosed space to seamlessly reintegrate

engagement, innovation, and advancement. Without spatial

with the rest of the office, allowing the space to be truly multi-

boundaries to provide privacy, studies show overall communica-

functional.

tion between team members is lower and workflow is more easily

By incorporating glass-wall systems, designers and architects

disrupted. Focus work is valued as the most important activity in

can update underperforming workspaces into a modern office

the workplace and takes up the majority of an employee's time. To

that ensures higher levels of productivity, a more efficient use of

efficiently complete this work, a sizeable amount of visual, audito-

space, and an increased sense of workplace satisfaction and

ry, and spatial privacy is needed. This allows individuals to work

connectivity. CA

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Commercial Architecture May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture May 2019
