Applications
Sliding doors selected to help provide premier patient experience.
During SCL Platte Valley Medical Center’s third floor renovation in Brighton, Colorado, the design team chose sliding doors in place of traditional swing solutions. The decision reflected the architect firm’s goal “to bring a premier patient experience to this smaller community east of the Denver metro area.”
In terms of performance, the sliding doors support privacy by separating the patient room from the patient restroom. They use sound-attenuation mechanisms to help reduce noise transmission, making for a tight-as-possible perimeter. The sliding doors also work to ensure patient rooms have ample space for visitors. The space-saving solution saves up to 3 m2 (30 sf) on both sides of the door. This means the visitor side and neighboring bathroom make the best use of space without the added bulk of a swinging door.
As for aesthetics, the commercial interior sliding doors have the appearance of slight sandblasting to visually address patient privacy. The cool white laminated glass works to diffuse natural light into the restroom while being a cleanable and durable surface. It also softens up the space to feel more like a home than a facility-setting. The inclusion of prairie-themed graphics, from tall grass and bountiful wildflowers to dainty butterflies, help the sliding doors harmonize with the rest of the medical center’s eastern Colorado-inspired décor.
With design and high-performance brought to the fore, the sliding doors pave the way for patients to enjoy more privacy and access to natural light, promoting overall well-being.
Sliding doors used for transformative learning spaces
Interior sliding doors are also a testament to form and functionality in “collaboration cubes” at North Creek High School (NCHS) in Bothell, Washington. In the collaboration cubes, occupants can slide the door to the side to visually enlarge the space and open up the small hallway rooms for team learning. As a NCHS project manager explained, “The sliding doors were a key component in bringing the collaborative concept to life.”
In addition, the sliding solution can help foster a more controlled environment when needed. When the doors are closed, the acoustic jamb gaskets and drop-down bottom seal features tighten the perimeter, encouraging learning without the distraction of outside noise. Sliding doors also afford greater accessibility to students, teachers, and para-educators of all mobility levels. Occupants can easily maneuver in and out of the small cubes. And with the collaboration cubes open and welcoming to all, everyone can take part in synergistic education.
To match the look of the rest of NCHS, the project designers specified flush wood, glass-paneled sliding doors. The natural wood stile closely resembles the sustainably sourced accents found throughout the space, and the addition of glass sidelites fits with the theme of using glass expanses where possible. They also further allow the sliding doors to capture the ample natural light filtering through the high school, supporting the project’s daylighting goals and improving group learning.
At NCHS, interior sliding doors bring about a culture of collaboration with sound attenuation, accessibility, and daylighting.
From hardly spec’d to in demand
When architects and designers first heard “interior commercial sliding door systems,” they often thought of clean, modern, and aesthetically pleasing assemblies. However, these alternative doors did not offer much in the way of performance. With 21st-ceuntry technological achievements and a focus on satisfying the specific needs of commercial projects, next-generation sliding doors grew to challenge this notion. Today’s solutions can solve common perimeter, occupant accessibility, and fire- and life-safety challenges, while maintaining a contemporary look and feel. As a result, professionals are increasingly specifying specialty sliding doors, building on the trend of smart design.
Author
Tysen Gannon, LEED AP, is director of business development for AD Systems. Gannon 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. She can be contacted via email at tysen.gannon@allegion.com.
