Close the Gap, Perfect The Performance
Acoustical, seismic, thermal, wind, and fire-rated gap closures
Sponsored by Gordon® and Mullion Mate®
Explore the challenges of closing the gap between glass facade and interior partitions in commercial buildings - a critical architectural junction that impacts fire safety, acoustic performance, and movement resilience.
In this course, participants will learn how preassembled, extruded aluminum partition gap closures can replace outdated drywallbased methods, providing a faster, safer, and code-compliant solution. Third-party certified testing standards (ASTM, UL) are examined to demonstrate the importance of validated performance. The course will guide test-takers on how to evaluate, specify, and detail high-performance partition closure systems in their projects.
Photo courtesy of Gordon®
Harvard University Science & Engineering Complex
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Architectural Firm: Behnisch Architekten
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in September 2025
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify the architectural and performance challenges in closing the gap between glass facade and interior partition walls in commercial buildings.
- Evaluate certified solutions for partition gap closures in terms of fire resistance, acoustics, seismic, thermal, and wind sway accommodation.
- Identify the benefits of using factory-assembled, expandable gap closures over traditional drywall methods.
- Apply proper specification practices to ensure code compliance, performance, and durability in partition gap closure systems.
