While operating cost reductions and value increases are the most reported reasons for going green, there are several other factors considered highly important in their decision-making process. Among them is brand protection or enhancement—they find that green is a good image to embrace. Additionally, human impact benefits for employees were a less tangible but important factor among 44 percent of retail owners and 50 percent of hotel owners. Over half of those participants in both sectors report that improved environmental health and well-being has a strong impact on their decision to make future green investments. Further, 70 percent of retail owners see meeting government regulations and standards as a key factor in their decision to do green projects in the future, while 70 percent of hotel owners consider water use reduction an important factor in that decision.

Photo courtesy of Hawa Americas Inc.

Multiple panels of sliding doors can be used to separate spaces when needed or open up to connect them and disappear into wall pockets or niches.

With all of the aforementioned in mind, we will look at three general design techniques that can help with both the general design and branding of a retail or hospitality facility while also contributing to their green building potential. First we will examine the issues of each and then look at specific applications.

1. Connecting Spaces for Flexible Uses

Flexibility of space in retail and hospitality settings can often go a long way to enhance operations, image, sustainability, and budgets. Recognizing that different spaces may not always be used at the same time for the same purpose, or that the size of a space may need to vary to accommodate different events or needs, designers often look for ways to incorporate doors or entire walls that can move to alternately enclose or connect spaces. This can reduce the overall size of a building and in the process reduce its need for materials and energy. There are primarily two types of design opportunities here—sliding or folding doors and operable exterior walls.

SLIDING DOOR CASE STUDY:
HAMPTON INN & SUITES

Location: York, Pennsylvania

Photo courtesy of Hawa Americas Inc.

This newly opened hotel is one of many Hampton Inns that uses a telescopic sliding hardware system to prevent guest access to the hotel breakfast buffet area when not in use. The six door panels spanning an 18-foot opening use two bi-parting telescopic door hardware systems. When the breakfast buffet area is in use, the panels retract fully into wall pockets concealing them from view. In addition to the ability to accommodate such a wide opening, this belted operated door system is easy for the hotel staff to operate, does not require entrainment strips, and does not require a bottom guide channel to be installed in the floor. This hospitality facility includes 100 guest rooms and suites, a 576-square-foot meeting room, heated indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, and breakfast buffet.

Sliding and Folding Doors

The use of interior sliding or folding doors in single or multiple panels can not only allow access between spaces, they can create appropriately sized, transformative spaces for events, displays, or operations. When closed, sliding or folding multiple door panels produce privacy on demand. When opened by users or facility staff, larger spaces can be easily created. The door panels can be made out of a variety of materials with some manufacturers focusing on minimizing the hardware used in order to allow the door panel material to remain as unobstructed as possible. The hardware used can be either steel or aluminum with some recycled content. Glass in various forms for the door panels is popular since it can introduce natural or borrowed light. This means that the space being enclosed does not need to be dark simply because the doors are shut. If privacy is needed, then it is entirely possible to use glass that is translucent, tinted, or otherwise treated to achieve the desired effect.

There are several common operational options for this type of large-format door system. Top-hung, straight sliding doors are a great option for renovation and new construction as top-hung sliding systems can more easily accommodate floors that may not be completely level or uniform. Significantly for design, sliding doors save space by not protruding into the room which also creates the sense of more open space. Some straight sliding top-hung systems can accommodate door panels over 1,000 pounds and still be fairly easy to install. A variation on straight sliding hardware systems is one that employs a belt system to allow the operation of one panel which simultaneously moves additional panels. This type of telescopic system maintains a leading panel and when that panel is moved, the additional panel(s) also follow along. Similar to the telescopic approach, a symmetric system is available which consists of two bi-parting panels that meet in the middle. With a belted symmetric system it only takes movement of one panel to move the opposite panel into place.

Photo courtesy of NanaWall Systems

Operable exterior walls allow hospitality and retail locations to connect indoor and outdoor spaces when the weather is favorable and securely close up the wall again when needed.

Instead of sliding, the door panels can fold using panels that are hinged together. They still rely on top hung hardware to guide their movement so that once folded, they can slide to one or both sides of an opening. The bottom guide hardware may be optional dependent on the system. There is also a sliding and stacking option with panels that move independently of each other. When opened fully, the folding panels can be slid so that they are stacked up or can be hidden behind a wall or in a niche.