Demountable Walls: Applications in Education

The use of demountable glass walls in facilities is gaining momentum nationwide and internationally. Advances in construction and facility management, coupled with heightened environmental awareness and budget constraints, combine to make movable walls an increasingly viable alternative to single-use drywall interiors.

One of the arenas where demountable walls are making a big impact is education.

From grade schools with ever-changing class sizes to the complex diversities of major universities, buildings used in education have to continually meet specific needs with regards to interior configuration, functionality, adaptability and economics.

The benefits of using demountable glass in educational facilities include:

Adaptability

Demountable walls allow the internal configurations of a school building to change easily as needed. As teaching methods evolve and classroom sizes fluctuate, so must a school adapt to provide the optimum environment for learning. This is true for small elementary schools, as well as institutions of higher learning. Movable walls outfit school buildings with endlessly creative and flexible options to set up classrooms of various sizes and spaces designated for special uses.

Introducing glass to a classroom allows natural light to flow through the environment, which enhances the ability to learn without sacrificing sound control.

Functionality

A system of movable walls allows administrators and facility managers to transform interior spaces and provide usable surfaces at the same time. Whether it’s a common meeting room, or smaller spaces for use by study groups, demountable walls can be outfitted with functional surfaces such as whiteboards to encourage both creativity and collaboration. Space constraints can be met by using sliding doors. Movable glass walls also provide various options for privacy, while still maintaining requirements for security.

Sustainability

Simply said, movable walls are designed to be sustainable. The use of glass and metal in our demountable wall systems, combined with our field-fit approach, ensure the least amount of waste during installation and in future re-designs. In addition, our partitions meet LEED building standards and are designed to be reusable.

Aesthetics

Glass walls are a contemporary design element that maximizes available light and enlarges one’s sense of space. It is a unifying design element that lends itself to any facility. Furthermore, movable walls can easily accommodate curvilinear floor plans. The overall effect is modern and expansive, even in enclosed spaces such as small classrooms or administrative offices.

Specific Applications in Education

Demountable walls can be used in a myriad number of ways in K-12 educational facilities. One of the primary objectives for using demountable partitions is to maximize flexibility in order to meet both present and future needs. Considerations include possible uses in designating break-out rooms, spaces that require adaptations for children with special needs, and media/computer rooms inside libraries.

In large universities, the options and applications of movable partitions can be endless. Designated learning, living spaces, research areas, administrative offices and collaborative spaces can benefit from the adaptability and functionality that demountable walls offer.

Open sections in libraries may be divided into study rooms fitted with individual carrels. Meeting rooms for group use, both in educational buildings and in dorms, can be separated from common rooms using glass walls. Laboratories, research areas, media rooms, and areas for student use benefit from increased line of sight and access to daylight, while still maintaining privacy and security.

Demountable glass walls are a cost-effective and highly flexible option that lends itself well to the objectives and challenges found in vibrant educational institutions. Building planners of both small schools and universities may be confident that, even as present needs are met, their facilities are able to adapt to the future demands of education as well.