All these features worked together to enhance the space in subtle but palpable ways, so designers did not have to choose between form and function.
Premium Acoustic Privacy
The built environment can aid staff well-being by finding a balance between collaboration and concentrated work. While creating optimal spaces for collaboration was a driving goal, Peoples Bank also needed to provide quiet spaces for independent work and to protect customer confidentiality.
The interior sliding doors used in the Peoples Bank project have perimeter and drop-down seals to provide a Noise Isolation Class (NIC) rating of up to 39. These features allow them to muffle up to 39 decibels, so conversations behind closed doors will be difficult to interpret from common areas and noise from outside areas will not bleed into these more private rooms. It’s an important element to consider, as not all interior sliding doors provide the same level of acoustic performance.
The doors’ acoustic performance is necessary to protect sensitive financial and account information. Customers will not have to worry about their information being overheard, which helps the bank provide more personal and efficient services. It also conveys the seriousness with which Peoples Bank handles sensitive information.
While these benefits are obvious in a bank setting, they can help other commercial spaces as well. For example, noticeable acoustic privacy in meeting rooms can facilitate direct and transparent communication without the concern of information leaking outside the room, which can benefit companies that deal with proprietary information or are beholden to client confidentiality laws.
Additionally, because interior sliding doors reduce incoming noise, they also provide a quieter space to interact with customers or to work on individual tasks. Not only does this improve accessibility for those with hearing impairments or cognitive disabilities that make concentrating difficult with background noise, but it also contributes to a more productive and appealing workspace.
Law Firm Brings Workplace Of The Future To Life
Facility executives can choose these doors to create a space that meets the varying needs of their staff, reaping the benefits of both traditional and open office plans. Further, their performance capabilities can contribute to increased customer satisfaction by providing a modern and secure environment.
Bringing It All Together
The renovation to Peoples Bank’s Corporate Center began as a way to strengthen the organization’s sense of collaboration and community by revamping the office’s look. Interior sliding doors helped the architects design a space that did just that. They create a visually appealing office that uses the building’s square footage efficiently. These interior sliding doors also provide acoustic isolation for individual work or meeting with customers. As such, they contribute to a working environment that is modern, welcoming, and secure.
Balancing the needs for collaboration and acoustic isolation, interior sliding doors can enhance the well-being of employees and boost the level of service a company can offer.
Gannon, LEED AP, AD Systems 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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