To meet the demand of constant innovation, more is being asked of commercial sliding doors than ever before. For example, in today’s real estate market, commercial building prices are rising and pushing businesses to purchase smaller plots of land. Due to increasingly limited square footage, building design professionals are challenged to not only meet their project’s aesthetic, but additionally determine which products will combine both function and design goals.
As a result, commercial sliding doors are often looked to for both. Recently, we’ve spotted five different trends that building professionals are calling for when specifying doors systems, including: higher demand for customization, daylighting, inclusion of graphics, increased security and unique door measurements. Continue reading to learn more about how manufacturers like AD Systems are ever-evolving to provide project solutions.
Trend #1: Demand for customization
Over the last few years, there has been an increasing trend towards customization across the building industry, commercial sliding doors being no exception. Manufacturers like AD Systems are progressively coming out with a wider range of wood species, panels, glass variations and hardware to include with their doors. These endless options can be helpful for those looking for design flexibility and for those wanting to mix commercial and residential layouts for a homier feel.
Trend #2: Daylighting
Incorporating higher levels of natural light in building design is important not only in satisfying LEED requirements, but also for occupants overall wellbeing. Recent studies show that daylight can help workers and building occupants be more productive, and significantly improve satisfaction in the workplace.
In fact, “The study also found that the absence of natural light and outdoor views hurts the employee experience. Over a third of employees feel that they don’t get enough natural light in their workspace. 47% of employees admit they feel tired or very tired from the absence of natural light or a window at their office, and 43% report feeling gloomy because of the lack of light.”
While solid doors keep sunlight limited to certain areas, glass in commercial sliding doors allows light to shine from room to room. AD Systems caters to this trend with their glass sliding doors and integral glass slidelite options, which can be customized to meet a project’s daylighting needs. The use of transoms is also a popular way to bring lighting into a space, particularly for small enclosed rooms like exam rooms or collaboration spaces.
Trend #3: Inclusion of graphics or signage in the glass
Another trend in the commercial sliding door industry, is the heightened demand for graphic and signage inclusion in glass applications. Whether in healthcare, business, or school building design – professionals are looking for ways to further integrate over-arching style into door systems, via nameplates for patient rooms, glass décor, etc.
For example, with AD Systems’ OfficeSlide™ doors, the sliding glass doors combine the beauty of glass with easy design flexibility. Decorative options for OfficeSlide doors include any glazing up to 1” thick; switchable glass that includes graphics or signage; integral blinds; marker boards or other solid infill panels; and customized integral lighting. Graphic design use is not limited to glass, many AD Systems wood door projects incorporate decorative or wayfinding graphics onto the leaf surface to further enhance aesthetics and efficient use of materials.
Trend #4: Increased security
In today’s climate, commercial door designs also need to check off ever-evolving safety and security requirements. As building manufacturers update security systems, they are looking to incorporate higher performing door systems to match these increased levels of safety.
As a result, upgrades such as uniform keying systems are now available with commercial interior sliding door systems. AD Systems, for example, offers heavy, commercial-grade locking and latching systems. These systems allow specialists to maintain the same look across the entire keying system, from swing doors to sliding doors. With this option, there is no need for an aesthetic downgrade, allowing for consistency within rooms. Interior sliding doors are also available with automation and card readers or other access control options, which are ideal solutions for security- , medication- and other private rooms within healthcare facilities.
Trend #5: Unique door measurements
Another trend building designers are utilizing is the ability to make doorways larger and more accessible to occupants. Correspondingly, commercial sliding doors are increasing in size to fit larger openings and allow an area to flow more seamlessly. AD Systems manufactures doors that are up to 5 to 7 feet per leaf for a clear opening. With bi-parting doors, it’s possible to get these doors as large as 10 to 15 feet per leaf. As door opening sizes increase, the benefits of a sliding door and efficient use of space and clearances is ever more apparent.
The final word
While trends are ever-changing, one constant remains – choosing the right materials and hardware to make for an attractive, high-performing space. Manufacturers like AD Systems provide a vast range of choices that can help meet aesthetic goals such as customization, daylighting, inclusion of graphics, security, and unique door measurements. Learn more about which door selection is right for your project, here.
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