Commercial and Residential Glass Installer and Manufacturer Resource

Glass Wall Panels – A Cost-Effective Office Solution

Mar 20, 2024 11:08:00 AM / by Greg Martell

 

Glass-wall-panels

You’ve been in that office with the dim lighting and the employees that seem barely awake. It’s not an inviting place to be. 

Or, you may have visited an office where there isn’t a wall in sight. It may be bright and modern looking, but it’s loud, and there’s no place for privacy. 

When designing office space, you don’t have to choose between privacy and good lighting. Glass wall panels provide both.


Why Glass Wall Panels Improve Office Spaces 

Glass wall partitions became popular a few years ago when large corporations like Google and Microsoft implemented open designs for their offices. Reasons to use glass wall panels in your next commercial project include:

  1. A modern professional look
  2. Lower energy costs
  3. Reducing the need for additional lighting
  4. Improving staff productivity
  5. Making rooms feel more open
  6. Using more earth-friendly materials
  7. Increasing employee safety
  8. Maintained privacy
  9. Sound dampening


1. A Modern Professional Look

Glass blends simplicity, function, and cleanliness – all tenets of modern design.  

Whether your design is traditional or modern, glass goes with every style. Glass also pairs well with commercial office furniture, plants, and art to create a high-end style without breaking the bank. 

The open and well-lit atmosphere of a glass interior gives a warm and inviting impression that isn’t always found in offices with solid walls and artificial lighting.


2. Lowering Energy Costs

Does your client want to cut back on energy bills? Glass wall panels allow hot and cool air to circulate in the office, ensuring a more consistent temperature in all areas. That office in the back that gets cold in the winter can reach normal temperature again.

You can decrease energy costs even further by installing polarized and insulated glass windows around the exterior. 


3. Reducing the Need for Additional Lighting

There’s nothing quite like a well-lit room. Glass wall partitions allow for a brighter office by capitalizing on natural daylight. Many offices rely heavily on artificial lighting, especially in spaces that lack access to windows. Using solid walls can create gloomy and uninviting offices.

Glass office walls reduce the need for artificial lighting, which helps further decrease their energy costs. Plus, a space lit up with natural light gives the office a more warm and more inviting feel. 


4. Improving Staff Productivity

Studies show that natural light has a positive effect on worker productivity. A lack of natural light reduces employees’ energy and morale. It can also put them at risk for a vitamin D deficiency, exacerbate seasonal affective disorder, and cause migraines and eye strain. 

Glass panel walls give a sense of community, even as they divide up spaces. Employees don’t feel isolated from one another. An enhanced feeling of connection to one another can help foster team building and increase creative collaboration.

Using glass office walls also brings a greater sense of accountability. Employees are less likely to waste time in a more visible environment. 

Resource: Need to partner with a glass manufacturer for your next commercial project? This guide can help:

Guide to partnering with a commercial glass company

 

5. Making Spaces Feel More Open

Solid walls have a way of taking a space and making it feel smaller. Even if the dimensions are the same, glass wall panels create the illusion of a roomier space. 

For office managers considering moving from an open space to separate workspaces, glass wall panels create barriers while maintaining an open feel. 


6. Using a More Earth-Friendly Material

Glass is 100% recyclable. It doesn’t lose quality or purity when recycled. This makes glass a more sustainable construction material than drywall and other materials. Plus, glass stands up to the wear and tear of an office better than solid walls.


7. Increasing Employee Safety

In a post-COVID-19 world, many offices are rethinking open concepts. Glass partitions create a physical barrier between employees, allowing for easier social distancing.  

Often made from tempered glass, office walls are safe and durable. Tempered glass is up to five times stronger than regular annealed glass, making it difficult to break, even with heavy blows. Should the glass break, it breaks into pebble-like pieces. While these pieces can still cause harm, they limit the risk of deep cuts and other serious injuries. They’re also easier to clean up.


8. Maintained Privacy

A glass interior doesn’t mean the end of office privacy. Wall panels can feature tinted, frosted, and patterned glass, allowing light to enter a space while obscuring visibility. Blinds or other hanging barriers can also be used. 

Since glass provides a sound barrier, conversations stay inside the room and don’t escape to the entire office. 


9. Sound Dampening

Open office areas can be loud places, with sound bouncing against a variety of surfaces. Using laminated glass reduces noise as the plastic interlayer absorbs some of the sounds. This way, conversations and other office noises don’t have to be a distraction, especially in “bull pen” office set ups. 


Consider Glass Fabrications to Enhance Your Glass Wall Panels 

Glass is easily fabricated to meet the style and needs of your office. A few types of glass to consider for your next project are: 


Tempered 

Tempered glass is heated up to extreme temperatures and cooled quickly under pressure. Tempering puts stress on the glass, creating tension across the pane and enhancing its strength. It breaks into small pebbles, making it safer than regular annealed glass.

Because of its durability, tempered glass is a must for public and high-trafficked places. 


Patterned 

Patterned glass allows for elegant designs that provide both privacy and enhanced lighting. The hazy appearance of acid etched glass gives a sense of elegance and privacy. White laminated glass provides both privacy and sound dampening. 


Tinted 

Tinted glass can be matched to the design of an office. For example, a woodsy decor with many earth tones could benefit from bronze-tinted glass. Plus, using tinted glass for the exterior of an office helps with energy efficiency. 


Low-Iron 

Low-iron glass is perfect for applications where clarity is a must. Containing 90% less iron than traditional clear glass, low iron glass doesn’t display a green/blue hue no matter its thickness. It also shows remarkable clarity and allows more light to pass through than traditional clear glass.   

Laminated

Laminated glass can provide several benefits, including UV ray protection, bullet resistance, sound dampening, and energy efficiency. Laminated glass is created by fusing two glass sheets to a clear interlayer.

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Glass Office Walls: Combining Elegance & Practicality

An office redesign doesn’t have to trend toward elegance or practicality; it can have both. Glass wall panels give offices a timeless beauty while creating a comfortable and productive environment for employees. 

For those who can’t decide between traditional walls and an open concept, glass provides a perfect compromise. 


Need Help Deciding Which Glass is Right for Your Project?

New Angle Beveling has more than 50 years of experience providing the highest quality glass products for our customers. Contact us today to find the perfect glass for your next project. 

Contact New Angle Beveling

 

Topics: Glass, Commercial Glass, Custom Glass, Tempered Glass, Patterned Glass, Acrylic, Polycarbonate

Written by Greg Martell