Innovations Encourage Green Renovations

Green components help meet renovation goals for both energy efficiency and modernization.
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Sponsored by Bradley Corp., CETCO, Eldorado Stone, Pella Commercial and THE SLIDING DOOR COMPANY®
Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP

Flexibility and Sliding Doors

Flexible partitions promote shared daylight, different working styles, easy renovations and re-configurations in offices.

Photo courtesy of THE SLIDING DOOR COMPANY®

Modernization, rebranding and creating a new business image can drive major renovations. In fact, the refresh rate for new images for hotels, restaurants and offices is often part of a 5- to 10-year facility plan. New research in work styles has driven new configurations for old office floor plans. To maintain and recruit new staff, business owners and management are requesting interiors that provide healthier air quality, increased access to daylight, use less toxic finishes and allow for flexible work spaces that can be configured to a variety of work options.

Workspaces created from sliding glass doors can provide flexibility for shared workplaces, satellite offices, as well as group conference nodes. Glass sliding doors create a larger sense of space and can be used in daylight harvesting strategies for greater access to views of nature. These modular components replace traditional drywall partitions and promote change.

As Todd Schwarz, sales manager, Commercial Division of The Sliding Door Company notes, “Sustainability is not just a checklist of materials, healthy finishes or certified products. It is problem solving that affects design in a cost-effective manner. For an office setting, modularity allows for flexible configurations for growing businesses as well as businesses looking to downsize.”

A private conference room created with a frosted sliding glass door wall with upper transparent window glazing shares daylight with the hallway.

Photo courtesy of THE SLIDING DOOR COMPANY®

 

REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE: CONSERVING RESOURCES

Building reuse is a strategy for the conservation of resources. Renovating an existing building rather than building new can reduce the environmental impact on the environment of materials transport and manufacturing and reduce waste.

Brent Spann, vice president of marketing of Eldorado Stone, comments: “Whenever possible, specified building products should have sustainable attributes. Some products that are lighter weight are better in a life-cycle analysis because they can be transported over longer distances for less fuel and less impact on infrastructure. Products designed to reduce labor and waste during installation can also be considered sustainable.”

Renovations using products, processes and materials that have green attributes can add substantial value to projects. The following is a continued discussion of windows, waterproofing, engineered and manufactured stone, as well as the use of glass sliding doors for maximizing the benefits of green renovations:

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in July 2011

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Innovations Encourage Green Renovations
Buyer's Guide
Contemporary Washroom Accessories Series
Bradley's new Diplomat™ Series offers a contemporary alternative to boxy-looking washroom accessories. The unique, dual-curve geometry design offers a sleek and elegant touch to any restroom. The roll towel dispenser accepts any brand of paper allowing the designer to maintain restroom aesthetics. The Diplomat series is manufactured with renewable energy.
Plaza Deck Restoration Solution
CoreFlex Thermoplastic Waterproofing Membrane provides superior waterproofing technology for above and belowgrade applications. Its advanced technology and dual membrane design allows for minimal demolition in Plaza Deck Restoration and enables CoreFlex to be installed over most adhered existing waterproofing membranes. Offering huge savings in time, cost and building disruption, CoreFlex is the ideal solution for Plaza Deck Restoration.
Fireplace Surrounds
Eldorado offers a collection of beautifully hand-crafted engineered limestone fireplace surrounds in nine distinctive styles. They come in a variety of colors and sizes from traditional, transitional to contemporary. The surrounds are lightweight, easy to install and more affordable than natural limestone. Installation kit included.
ELDORADO STONE
www.eldoradostone.com
Wood and Aluminum-clad Wood Windows
Often used in historic renovation projects, Pella® Architect Series® wood and aluminum-clad wood windows are available in a broad range of sizes, shapes, wood types (pine, douglas fir, alder, & mahogany) and include many custom glass options and muntin patterns. Sustainable product attributes include recycled aluminum and glass, renewable wood, and energy efficient design.
PELLA COMMERCIAL
www.pellacommercial.com
Room Dividers
Room dividers are a sliding door system separating one part of a room from another, using a proprietary panel-clamp smooth-glide system. Design is customizable with choice of finishes and highly safe glass types (tempered or laminated). Shown here: 3-inch, trio frame design, in black finish with combination-laminated clear and semi translucent glass.
THE SLIDING DOOR COMPANY®
www.slidingdoorco.com