Windows & Doors

leave gaps where sound travels into or out of the space. Nevertheless, doors play a role in sound reduction.

Traditionally, swing doors out-performed sliding doors for controlling sound. Until recently, sliding doors typically had lower STC (sound transmission class)/NIC (noise isolation class) ratings than swing doors due to the difficulty of sealing all sides of a sliding door in the closed position. Now, however, sliding door options are available that achieve NIC values on par with swing doors by sealing all four sides of the door leaf. Some sliding door assemblies provide NIC values to 39, which meets or exceeds the Chicago-based Facility Guidelines Institute’s STC 35 target for speech privacy in exam rooms. In addition to providing privacy for conversations, this level of sound attenuation helps reduce noise outside the private space for an overall healthier and more productive indoor environment.

In addition to sliding doors that help block sound, design professionals, as of 2018, can now use sliding doors where building codes require a fire rating. The first such product is a surface-mounted, top-hung, single-leaf wood door with a 45-min. UL 10B fire rating. As a result of this fire-rated configuration, even more spaces are open to realizing the benefits of sliding doors.

Conference rooms benefi t from the space-saving form and clean lines of sliding doors.

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MOUNTAIN VIEW HOSPITAL The expanded and refurbished emergency department at Mountain View Hospital in Payson, UT, features sliding doors from AD Systems, Everett, WA.

“It was critical that we create transparency in the department so that everyone—doctors, nurses, staff, and patients—can look around and immediately see what’s heading their way,” said Nathan Murray, design principal of TSA Architects, Salt Lake City. The sliding doors “enabled us to maximize the space in an efficient way so we could achieve a fluid environment that can respond to the fluctuating levels of demand placed on it at any given time,” he said.

The doors offer space savings, durability, and acoustic mitigation. ADA-compliant operation and soft-close features ensure that patients of all ages and abilities can easily open and close the doors.

“We now have the means to provide a broad range of emergency-care services faster to even more people,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO of Mountain View Hospital. “This state-of-the-art expansion, combined with our award-winning emergency department processes, will help us deliver care in the most effective manner possible.”

For design professionals who value the contemporary aesthetics and space-saving nature of sliding doors, the growth in options available with today’s technology and designs means not trading acoustic performance, fire-ratings, hardware options, or reliability by deciding to design with sliding doors. CA

Tysen Gannon, LEED AP, is director of business development for AD Systems, Everett, WA. She has more than 15 years of experience in the architectural-products industry, including roles in sales, product management, research, and marketing, with a focus on glass and glazing, fenestration and, façade systems.

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commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/ 1812adsyst.

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AD Systems, specadsystems.com Facility Guidelines Institute, fgiguidelines.org TSA Architects, tsa-usa.com

“Open-Plan Offi ces Kill Productivity, According to Science,” inc.com/geoffrey-james/science-just-provedthat-open-plan-offi ces-destroy-productivity.html “Acoustics in Healthcare Environments,” cisca.org/ fi les/public/Acoustics%20in%20Healthcare%20 Environments_CISCA.pdf “Measurement of Speech Privacy Of Closed Rooms Using ASTM E2638 And Setting Criteria In Terms Of Speech Privacy Class,” nparc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/view/ accepted/?id=8ed2f599-2470-440c-a515-5bc75d0b1071

Beveled direct windows Ultra series beveled direct windows have IPD4 impact certifi cation and High Velocity Hurricane Zone certifi cation in the state of Florida. The units are certifi ed in single glazed and insulated versions, as well as steel-reinforced and non-reinforced mulls.

Kolbe Windows & Doors, Wausau, WI Circle 69 kolbewindows.com

Bullet-resistant entrance systems Full-vision bullet-resistant doors for interior applications and aluminum bullet-resistant doors for exterior applications are additions to the company’s security line. The full-vision doors have a built-in, continuous geared hinge to increase security and reduce visible hardware. The doors provide Level 1 or Level 3 bullet protection according to UL 752 ballistic-testing standards. The aluminum exterior products can provide a complete storefront and entrance system. With 4 5/8-in. stiles and a 7 5/16-in. bottom rail, doors meet the same UL 752 standards.

C.R. Laurence Co. Inc., Los Angeles Circle 70 crlaurence.com

PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR 2018 Windows & Doors

Window-covering system The TZ100 Zipper Tension system is an internal and external window-covering system for horizontal skylight applications designed to eliminate light gaps at any angle. Using Zip Lock technology, the fabric covering is locked into an extrusion that runs the entire span of the system. By keeping solar-control fabric under constant tension in top down, bottom up, sideways, and skylight applications, the fabric is prevented from blowing out of the guides while remaining taut, providing blackout design and defending against unwanted insects.

Hunter Douglas Architectural, Pearl River, NY Circle 71 hdarchitectural.com

Thermally broken curtain wall The YUW 750 TU thermally broken curtain wall offers design freedom through the captured or structural silicone-glazed options offered. The captured frame features a 2 1/2-in. sightline while the 4-side structural silicone glazed-frame has zero sightline, creating a sleek modern look. Both framing options offer a high level of structural soundness. The curtain wall has a U-value of 0.41 or less, and integrates with sunshades to achieve even greater sustainable performance. The ThermaBond+ process enhances the adhesion of polyurethane material to aluminum extrusions, which signifi cantly improves adhesion and prevents dry shrinkage.

YKK AP America Inc., Austell, GA Circle 72 ykkap.com

Private, transparent wall system WhiteOUT is an individual panel, frameless, opening glass-wall system that provides visual privacy or transparency on demand. Opacity allows the system to be used as a whiteboard or projection screen for maximum space effi ciency at the touch of a button. When not in use, the glass panels can be stacked remotely and out of sight to allow a fl exible connectivity of spaces. The system provides privacy without any vertical interruption since it has no stiles.

NanaWall Systems, San Francisco Circle 73 nanawall.com

Integrated window solution PTAC window units provide a unifi ed, watertight design while simplifying window and HVAC installations. The PTAC-ready products consist of a fully welded vinyl frame custom built around a PTAC louver and then mulled to user specifi cations. The louver is custom designed to match the sleeve, resulting in lowered HVAC cost. The unit delivered to the job site is completely integrated, and is installed into a single rough opening.

Harvey Commercial Solutions, Waltham, MA Circle 74 harveycommercial.com

Ceiling Products Finish Top Of Class

Improving aesthetics and acoustics, a Kansas high school uses Rockfon ceilings throughout its new and renovated spaces.

Salina Central High School, Salina, KS, celebrated the completion of its expansion and renovation project in March 2018. Originally constructed in 1952, the facility had not received many improvements through the decades. Maintaining the school’s sense of history, DLR Group, Overland Park, KS, and Jones Gillam Renz Architects, Salina, designed an updated and larger facility to provide more space and modern features to better serve the 1,000 students in grades 9 through 12.

Blending new construction with renovated areas, Chicago-based Rockfon ceiling systems were installed throughout the 60,000-sq.-ft. school. The high school now encompasses renovated computer labs, commons, and athletics areas; a new auxiliary gym that doubles as a storm shelter; new art, theater, and music areas; new administrative offices, along with a career and technical-education center; and new science and drama classrooms. On average, 700 to 800 sq. ft. was added to each classroom along with the new ceilings.

“Being that a major goal of the project was modernizing a dated building, we needed a ceiling that was aesthetically clean and modern looking. At the end of the day, this is a school, so things such as maintenance, sound reduction, quality, and longevity are critical,” explained Ian Kilpatrick, DLR Group architect.

Addressing each of these ceiling requirements, Rockfon’s district manager, Jim Frasca, noted, “Rockfon Artic acoustic stone-wool ceiling panels, baffles, and islands offer a durable, low-maintenance, quality system; a good noise-reduction coefficient; a nice, white, smooth finish; and a high-end look at an economical price. In addition, our 2-inch Infinity perimeter trim creates a neat, clean edge for the ceilings.”

DLR Group’s Kilpatrick agreed and added, “A great advantage of Rockfon’s product offerings is that we were largely able to provide one manufacturer of ceilings throughout the entire facility, while still incorporating many different ceiling solutions.”

For the majority of the classrooms, hallways, offices, and commons areas, Artic acoustic stone-wool ceiling panels with a square edge were the approved solution. These panels, in either 2-by-2 or 2-by-4-ft. sizes, were suspended within the company’s Metallic 1200 series 15/16-in. grid, and finished with Infinity 2-in. engineered perimeter trim.

In the stairwells, Contour stone-wool frameless acoustic baffles help control the noise of students passing between classes. Also helping optimize acoustics and daylight, Island acoustic stone-wool panels were directly mounted to the ceiling of the art-education area and the new two-story media center. The 4-by-4-ft. white panels not only provide high sound absorption, but also diffuse and reflect as much as 86% of light to reduce energy demands.

Beyond performance, principal Nate Showman called the media center’s interior a “showstopper.” It serves as the hub of the high school, remains open late for students to work on projects, and accommodates many after-school meetings.

“It was a giant collaborative effort from top to bottom making sure that this thing went as smoothly as possible,”

Above. Blending the school’s new construction with renovated areas, Chicago-based Rockfon ceiling systems were installed throughout the 60,000-sq.-ft. Salina (KS) Central High School. Frameless acoustic baffl es help control the noise of students passing between classes. Photography: Michael Robinson Photography LLC

Left. Helping optimize acoustics and d aylight, Island acoustic stonewool panels were directly mounted to the ceiling of the art-education area and the new two-story media center.

said Matt Hohn, senior superintendent at McCownGordon Construction, Kansas City, KS. The high school’s completed project cost approximately $31 million and took nearly two years. Construction began in 2016 and continued in coordinated phases through 2018.

At the ribbon-cutting celebration, principal Showman told the Salina Journal, “This project was a complex renovation of a huge and remarkable building, and it took place while school was in session. Our teachers, office staff, instructional assistants, and maintenance team have worked tirelessly to ensure that our students had a clean, safe, and inviting instructional environment to come to each day. They have packed and unpacked multiple times and have seen their building change right before their eyes.” CA

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Rockfon, rockfon.com DLR Group, dlrgroup.com Jones Gillam Renz, jgrarchitects.com McCownGordon Construction, mccowngordon.com