Technological improvements to movable glass walls and partitions in recent years have made them an increasingly popular solution for breaking up offices, classrooms, storefronts, healthcare, hospitality spaces and more. Especially as users are increasingly concerned about the spaces they occupy post-pandemic, glass walls and partitions provide an array of benefits.

This Kwik-Tips blog specifically addresses the benefits of INTERIOR glass folding panel partitions that are now specified within CSI section 10-22-39.13 – Folding Panel Partitions – Glass. Why the distinction? Many times, interior movable glass partitions are lumped into specifications that are based on exterior partitions. When using exterior panel partitions the performance specification needs to include wind, water and structure load requirements that interior movable glass walls just simply do not require. Although it may be cool to have an exterior-facing folding glass partition wall for your commercial and residential space, we’ll keep this blog focused on interior commercial applications.

Flexibility

As hybrid work environments evolve, the more flexibility in a space, the better. Flexible elements used for space configuration, like movable glass wall partitions, present a significant advantage because they can adapt as the users’ needs change, providing creative space solutions and adjacencies to optimize spatial use. Movable partitions provide an easy method of transforming a space as individual (“Me”), colleague (“us”) and team (“we”) spaces change daily and even hourly.

Open offices that once accommodated the entire staff will be reconfigured to create optional working environments. Schools will examine the best ways to integrate both hybrid and safely distanced classrooms for in-person learning. Meanwhile, we’ve already seen a pivot in the ways that entertainment and hospitality spaces—especially restaurants—created flexible spaces during the pandemic to adjust to creating intimate flex spaces. Operable glass walls and partitions are an easy addition to an existing layout and offer new builds a range of possibilities.

Now configurations are almost endless with sliding folding, remote stacking, telescopic and even pivoting designs. Kwik-Wall’s Luminous™ STELLA and LUNA movable glass wall systems can even be provided with fully electric operations.

There are spaces that have always required flexibility, like conference rooms and convention halls. Today’s glass walls and partitions allow for quick and easy space adaptation with less personnel.

Line of Sight

There is a growing trend of having a clear line of sight in spaces. Rather than siloing individuals behind opaque walls, having a line of sight in and out of conference rooms, offices, educational spaces and more helps to encourage cohesion across teams and foster a more productive environment.

In schools, a clear line of sight allows teachers to oversee students who may be participating in a variety of different activities, creating more independent learning opportunities that are structured for different levels of learning.

Likewise, offices that provide a clear line of sight help support productivity and a feeling of unity. Especially as remote and hybrid employees return to the office after from remote home offices, a clear line of sight can help promote teamwork.

What’s more: a line of sight through spaces can help make the room feel more spacious.

Natural Light

Research has shown the psychological advantages of natural light: employees and students who work in natural light record higher levels of energy, focus and productivity; meanwhile, studies found that there can be an increase in retail sales by up to 40% when skylights are installed overhead. And there are noticeable improvements in health when individuals have access to natural light. A 15-year-long study found that patients spent less time in the hospital when they were placed near a window compared to those who didn’t have access to natural light.

For spaces looking to improve the natural light that permeates throughout the building, movable glass walls offer a simple solution, replacing opaque walls and barriers, to provide more integrated interiors.

What’s more: the increase of natural light throughout the space can help meet energy-efficiency goals and can help you qualify projects for WELL or LEED v4 certification points.

Acoustics

Acoustics have become an increasingly important factor when designing interiors. Even when it comes to movable glass partitions and sliding glass walls, higher sound control capabilities can be achieved by specifying panel styles, frames, seals and glass type for the intended use and location. By understanding the sound transmission class (STC) ratings of each element of a glass wall, better designs can be achieved with optimal acoustical performance.

Kwik-Wall’s STELLA line can achieve up to a 50STC rating meeting or exceeding both LEED v.4 and ANSI S.12.60 standards for classroom wall acoustic performance criteria. Both room-to-room and corridor rates can be exceeded. With high acoustic performance using glass walls between classroom spaces, acoustical consultants and architects ensure that the ambient noise levels within school and offices can maintain speech intelligibility. Want to learn more about this subject, click here for another KWIK-Tips blog specific to this. Link goes to blog #2- Flexible classroom design.

Overhead and Floor Supported Options

A big advantage of today’s glass folding panel partitions is that they can be either top or floor-supported. Some facilities were not designed with adequate overhead structure to hang panels. Providing floor-supported systems gives options for designers.

Top-supported systems provide the benefit of removing the need for floor tracks altogether. When the glass wall partitions are not in use and put away, there are no unattractive and even potentially dangerous empty floor tracks that can be a potential tripping hazard. Top-supported glass wall partitions also decrease the build up of dust and dirt in grooves of the floor or carpet.

Aesthetics

Ok, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but glass folding panel partitions are just a sleek way to divide a space. Glass is so versatile in providing interior designers with a nearly limitless creative palette. Colors, textures, patterns, thicknesses, etching, decals, transparency, opaqueness…you get the idea. Even switchable glass that can provide both vision or opaque options from the same opening.

And how about Kwik-Wall’s MATA wood-framed glass wall options? The beauty of renewable wood frames with stunning finishes. Wood walls that move.

Luminous glass folding panel partitions offer darn near endless options.

Contact Us Today to Learn How KWIK-WALL’s Glass Wall Solutions Can Work for You

Kwik-Wall has more configurations and options available from one source and can guarantee that we have a partition option that will work well for your space’s needs. Find a distributor near you or contact us directly today, and one of our representatives will be happy to work with you and help get your project started.

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