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PROJECT
| interiors
Operable glass-wall systems allow architects and designers to create flexible, enclosed spaces that allow natural light transmission.
Want more information from NanaWall Systems (nanawall.com)? Circle 2 on the Reader Service Card. Sources listed below are linked at commercialarchitecturemagazine. com/1905nanawall.
• 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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