With all the changes that continually take place within the construction, architectural and design industries, one consistent component in many commercial applications is glass.
Why? Its beauty, versatility, and safety, of course.
Recent statistics show construction spending for commercial projects—particularly those featuring large glass components—has been on the rise.
Citing the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, a November 2017 article by architectural glass news resource USGlass News Network and USGlass Magazine highlighted this trend:
"Construction spending continues to increase in building segments that use large amounts of glass," it states. “Spending in commercial construction grew 15.5 percent through the first three quarters of 2017 compared to the same time in 2016. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, it declined 1.1 percent from September to August but spiked 11.4 percent in September compared to the same month last year.”
Photos from The Dirt on DIRTT: Taylor Greene and Ryan Zerante
When it comes to interior commercial glass, specifically, there are a few key explanations for its continued utilization.
As discussed in an April 2017 article in Glass Magazine, another resource for the most recent glass industry news, glass doors in commercial interiors pose three key benefits:
- Safety
- Size
- Style
Glass products are made with intricacy and precision to ensure each project is safe, awe-inspiring, beautiful—and not to mention, practical. Because glass can be easily manipulated in a wide variety of ways, its possibilities within a door system, wall or partition are endless.
Glass can be:
- Back-painted into a customized color;
- Cut and shaped with the help of specialized equipment;
- Used to improve the amount of natural light in a space;
- Tempered to withstand pressure and increase safety;
- Cleaned easily, making maintenance a non-issue;
- A method to encourage collaboration among co-workers;
- And so much more.
All of the above are essential characteristics to consider when incorporating glass into a commercial interior design.
The Glass Magazine article suggests keeping current trends, size limits, pricing, design, and hardware requirements in mind when working with commercial glass doors, specifically.
“As glass height and thickness increase, wider glass is expectedly more common as well, making appropriate support of the increasing glass weight vital," it continues. "Proper support will ensure ongoing performance and prevent future problems.”
“Verify all glass systems have testing or manufacturer approval prior to installation, particularly considering the different types and sizes of tempered glass available,” adds the article.
However you chose to integrate glass products within your next interior project, it’s important to work with a reliable and skilled commercial glass manufacturer and fabrication company.
Learn more about what you should look for in a glass fabricator, here.
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