Resilient Interior Doors

Swinging doors are common, necessary elements of any retail or hospitality space and are appropriately selected to meet specific functional needs. Additionally, as significant visual components, they can contribute to, or even be the center of, an overall interior design. Essentially, doors and frames are both workhorse elements of a space and a feature that can enhance a design concept. Although doors are not the focus of design in many cases, certain retail and hospitality buildings such as hotels are starting to use more creative door designs to enhance their interiors.

The key to successful door selection in high-use areas is to specify a system that not only looks great but also performs well, holding up to daily use and potential abuse. In that regard, there are several qualities to look for:

• Doors that are specifically manufactured for high-impact areas and are clad with ultra-durable coverings for demonstrated protection.
• Attention to door edges, since that is where most door damage occurs. Some are specifically manufactured to feature rounded, replaceable stiles and edges for extra protection. Better yet, some carry a warranty against damage for the lifetime of the door.
• The covering on doors can be specified to be bacterial and fungal resistant.
• Some doors are made of PVC-free material, can be Cradle to Cradle Certified, and can help to contribute toward LEED v4 credits.

Image courtesy of Construction Specialties

A life-cycle comparison of different types of doors shows that over a 10 year period, 500 wood doors in a facility would cost $800,000 more to buy and maintain than protected doors and frames.

While all of these attributes help with the performance of the door, designers no longer have to sacrifice aesthetics for durability. They are available in a broad range of colors and patterns, and they can fit seamlessly into any design concept. In addition to extensive standard design choices, some products also allow architects to display any image, pattern, photograph, etc. on a door without compromising durability.

Using protectively coated doors helps keep entire openings looking like new over time. A life-cycle cost analysis comparing wood doors to protected doors showed that a facility can benefit from substantially less cost over time by using the protected doors. This tested durability means that the intended aesthetic of any space will hold up, even in high-traffic areas like utility rooms and housekeeping areas.

Mike Delin, senior manager of product marketing with Construction Specialties, says, “We know hospitality architects and designers are looking for long-lasting products with enough style options to meet their complex design needs.” That is why the industry is so robust with durable product offerings to fit seamlessly into the vision for any space.

Image courtesy of Construction Specialties

Protected solid-core wood doors can be specified with reinforced surfaces and easy to replace door edges, all of which fit into overall design schemes.

HOTEL CASE STUDY

Photos courtesy of Construction Specialties

Project: Hotel Nikko San Francisco
Location: San Francisco

The Project: Hotel Nikko is an impressive 28-story structure offering more than 500 guestrooms, along with myriad meeting rooms, ballrooms, and other typical gathering spaces.

The hotel, in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square, is known for its welcoming, upscale atmosphere. With its Asian-inspired décor, stunning city views, private lounges, and luxury amenities, Hotel Nikko is understandably a popular spot. A steady stream of guests and staff, carrying and rolling luggage, catering carts, and equipment, leads to continual abuse of the hotel interior, which includes damage to the doors.

Design Goals: The existing doors quickly showed wear and tear, so a simple, cost-effective solution was crucial. Russell Palacio, director of engineering at Hotel Nikko, wanted the doors to be sleek and stylish. He collaborated with Vic Scafani, owner of San Francisco Window & Door Co., to resolve the issue. “We’re located in the heart of a dynamic and beautiful city, so our hotel needs to look its best at all times in this highly competitive market,” Palacio says. “We needed doors that were created for durability, and we needed to make sure our doors lasted. Plus, they needed to look great doing their job.”

Results: Following sample approvals by the board of directors and the CEO, 21 pairs of interior doors were replaced with 90-minute, fire-rated swinging doors with built-in damage-resistant features. These doors provide extra protection against frequent impacts, yielding stunning endurance for years to come. With Hotel Nikko’s focus on maintaining its high-end appeal, these doors are proving to be the solution that delivers uncompromising durability without compromising style. This door replacement project allowed Hotel Nikko San Francisco to revitalize its meeting room and ballroom openings with durable doors. The endurance and polished look of the doors help to solidify the hotel’s high-end aesthetics and atmosphere.