Case Study: Divide & Conquer

Benefiting from Operable Glass Walls In Office or Medical Spaces

THE CHALLENGE

Spacious, Yet Private

Solar Innovations® was approached in 2015 by a medical office in San Diego, California looking for a way to alter their existing office space. Their goal was to maintain a level of privacy and comfort for their patients, while having the option to create a large, open space when desired. They had a 247 square foot opening separating the lobby from the primary meeting room that could open completely to create an unimpeded space. Secondly, they wanted a second dividing wall that joined the large wall at its center point to create two separate conference spaces or could be opened to preserve the large space of the main conference room if desired. It was also crucial that the primary meeting room space could be accessed without having to open the entire wall. The customer already had our Slide and Stack Glass Wall System in mind, but was unsure of how the unit would operate to achieve their goals. With the objectives of privacy, accessibility, and operability in mind, the Solar Innovations® design team went to work devising a plan to meet this challenge.

THE SOLUTION

Operable Walls With Multiple Opening Points

A drive to break away from the traditional layout of medical facilities guided the design of this system and allowed the Solar Innovations® team to think outside the box when it came to transforming this space. Two SI3351NS Aluminum Slide & Stack Glass Wall Systems installed perpendicular to one another would be the perfect solution for the customer’s needs.

The smaller four-panel unit slides and stacks towards the exterior of the building and away from the larger unit, while the larger eight-panel unit slides and stacks to the left, down the long hallway of the office. If needed, all panels of both units could be stacked together, creating a fully open space with no obstructions of any kind.

The center two panels of the larger unit serve as integrated matching out-swing doors. This allows for access to either of the divided conference rooms without having to completely open the wall. When desired, the out-swing doors will also slide and stack along with the rest of the panels.

Because the operable wall units used in this project were for exclusively interior use, no exceptional air, or water performance was necessary. This allowed our team to utilize a top-hung system, accompanied by dust-proof floor strikes that provide a seamless transition from lobby to conference room. The user engages floor strikes with the panel by turning the two-point locking handle when it is aligned over a floor strike.

For added privacy, the units are glazed with a 1/4” tempered monolithic glass with a frosted pattern that runs the length of the opening. This limits visibility into the room without requiring the use of blinds. The frosted portion of the glass does not completely block the view into the room, however, it allows patients to feel comfortable in the space that would otherwise be completely transparent with clear glass. Though the thickness of this glass does not add any heightened STC acoustical rating, the system is designed to reduce sound transfer, providing an added level of privacy to those inside.

THE OUTCOME

Operability With Privacy

The professionals at this Oceanside, California medical office were extremely pleased by the transformative feel of the Solar Innovations® Slide and Stack Glass Walls. It provided them the freedom to either utilize the wide open space or quickly divide it into two conference rooms, with added privacy.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STACKING GLASS WALLS AND OUR OTHER PRODUCTS, VISIT SOLARINNOVATIONS.COM/OUR-PRODUCTS/