With time, the trend of using glass walls and panels has become more popular, and it has been noticed that the design of novice workplaces significantly depends on using them. Such trends increase the inflow of natural light into a workspace, enable a free-flowing yet welcoming environment to the organization, and greatly assist in increasing collaboration. However, along with the advantages amply provided, such offices do also pose some challenges such as scarce privacy, heat intakes, and excessive glares.
For Torontonians, where population density goes against the grain, and the weather is very unpredictable, new ideas should be generated to cater to such challenges. This article will cover the design strategies for landscapes of Toronto while also maintaining the modern aesthetic appeal of your desired office.
Opportunities and Obstacles for Offices Using Glass Walls
Benefits
Enhances well being: The inclination and integration of having glass walls and glass windows creates opportunities for maximizing the inflow of natural light in the newly built working offices.
Facilitates Interaction: With transparent walls, there is more collaboration and engagement among workers.
Visually Appealing: Incorporating glass into the office creates a more modern look and improves the overall look of the office.
Challenges
Confidentiality: Plain see-through glass can potentially leak images of secrets exposed during confidential meetings or closed workspaces.
Screens and surfaces heated by the extended sun can reduce productivity and cause discomfort in employees because of the glare.
Temperature Inefficiency: Large glass surfaces may facilitate heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
UV Damage: Unfiltered sunlight brings gradual discoloration of furniture, flooring, and equipment.
Indeed, modern workplaces will try to overcome these issues while ensuring a good design. Here are some good solutions.
Some Useful Ideas on How to Integrate Glass into the Space Planning of Your Office
1. Use Adhesive Solutions for Enhancing Privacy-Screaming in Frosted and Decorative Window Films
Frosted and decorative films do not obstruct light but they can be used for added privacy. These films are also available in other designs for a more professional look and branded logos enabling branding while focusing on functionality.
For example: in Toronto, a financial firm fitted their conference room windows with frosted films to protect the clients’ identities and to allow an open bright office at the same time.
A tip: Use decorative films, for example, with a logo, so that the entire office design is integrated and looks more professional.
2 Reduce Movements Use And Glare Films Anti-Glare
Anti-glare films are said to filter off an ideal amount of sunlight and in return minimizes the glare on the screens. This ensures that employees are working under conducive circumstances without glare and straining of the eyes.
Statistics: Forty percent of employees’ anti-glare complaints reduced in offices where anti-glare films were installed, leading to higher productivity and satisfaction levels.
A useful piece of information: Install anti-glare films on panes that are perpendicular to the sun especially in south- or west-facing offices.
3. Economize building energy performance with low emittance glass technology.
A challenge that is encountered with an office design that comprises largely glass is a temperature control issue. Such films are an indispensible addition to structual performance since they conserve energy by controlling the indoor temperature in all seasons.
This means that during the summer, the film will help maintain a cooler indoor temperature since it will reflect the heat but during the winter, low E films help warm up indoor spaces by allowing sunlight to penetrate through but help restrain warm air from escaping to the outside.
General Statistic: Harvard studies have shown that about 30% of heat that is over lost during winter can be saved through the use of low E films and as much as 70% of heat that is gained during summer can also be controlled thus bringing down HVAC system operational costs.
Recommendation: Use a combination of low E windows and effective HVAC systems to achieve maximum energy efficiency.
4. Protect the Office Design with Ultraviolet Protection Coating Films
One such thing that does need to be taken seriously is protecting the interiors from UV radiation by filming.
Using a film of ultraviolet protection is a good practice as it will keep harmful rays out. These rays greatly damage the office assets in time and this will lead to loss of large amounts to the furniture, the flooring, and graphics.
Illustration: Head office of a design agency situated in Downton area in Toronto filmed the windows with ultraviolet blocking films to increase the life of their expensive furniture and equipment for many years to come.
Advice: For every glass surface that is exposed to direct sunlight, install ultraviolet protection films across the surface. The same can be said for sunlit windows as they also risk exposing the interiors and the employees to unfavorable conditions over time.
Improve Acoustics with sound proofing coating films
Being in an urban setup automatically brings a lot of external sound to the workplace. Acoustic films come in handy in helping reduce sound transmission into the workspace and suppress background noise enabling users to focus on tasks easily, thereby improving the overall working environment.
Using acoustic films, a marketing agency located on a busy street managed to reduce noise pollution by 50%, which contributed to a more serene and conducive working environment.
Take Away: Use acoustic films in conjunction with interior sound absorbing materials such as carpets and panels to achieve an effective reduction in noise levels.
Change the Outlook of Your Office with Tints and Films in Toronto
We at Tints and Films work with architects and builders to provide customized window covering solutions for modern offices in Toronto. Our films set out to solve appropriate design challenges of contemporary glass building systems without losing the beauty of the building. They also take into account such issues as glazing area, energy loss, and post- occupancy privacy requirements.
Why Us on Tints and Films?
Professional Installation: Application and long- term effects are guaranteed by our expert crew.
Top-Quality Products: We work with reputable companies like Madico, solargard, SLP Windowfilm, Tekton edge and offer the best quality films.
Custom Solutions: We provide frosted films for privacy, low E coatings for energy saving requirements among others.
Conclusion
Glass fixtures in a building promote a contemporary style; however, stylistic considerations need to be handled strategically to maximize their advantages while minimizing their disadvantages. Use of film, which enhances privacy, glare, temperature and UV level control, would enable you to create an appealing area of focus.
Looking to change up the glass design of your office? We'd be happy to help you with this optimization of your working space - get in touch with Tints and Films for an appointment today.
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