While there are many advantages to open floor plans, many businesses are leaning toward incorporating modular panels into their floor plans. These systems feature architectural ceiling and wall panels that can be moved, relocated, and reinstalled without permanent construction.

Businesses can use modular panels for various purposes, including creating office spaces quickly and maximizing other small areas. It isn’t uncommon for modular panels to come in several pieces or as one single piece. Both options provide businesses with quick assembly and installation.

About Architectural Ceiling and Wall Panels

architectural wall cladding panelsEven though brick and mortar construction is here to stay, many businesses move to modular approaches for their office’s designs. Incorporating ceiling and wall panels and modular panels with movable partitions is a design concept that started slow. However, during the early 21st century, it has become one of the more dominant commercial design trends.

Compared to fixed drywall, these portable systems have several advantages for businesses. For example, in addition to their aesthetic benefits, companies love their mobility. They also love how they improve their traffic flow and reduce their overhead expenses.

Choosing modular designs also means businesses aren’t locked into a single type of floor plan. Instead, they have choices among several different kinds of modular panels.

Understanding the Types of Modular Panels

Companies can find a wide variety of movable ceiling and wall panels that can meet their business needs. These systems range from movable cubicle walls to glass walls. In modular offices, it isn’t uncommon to hear these systems referred to as partitions.

Typically, when a company orders modular wall panels, they arrive in pieces. Then the next step is a straightforward installation process. Each installation kit comes to the business with connectors, fittings, and panels.

Demountable Walls

One of the most notable advantages of demountable walls is that they have interchangeable parts even though they’re stick-built. There are several benefits to using demountable walls, including:

  • Speed up construction
  • Reconfigure and reuse modular panels after initial installation
  • Increase the construction project’s sustainability
  • See a quicker return on the investment because modular panels depreciate faster than drywall
  • Experience a history of durability and successful use no matter the setting

Each of the modular panels makes it easy for companies to develop inspired designs. That freedom also includes giving businesses the ability to make changes anytime they want a new floor plan or appearance.

Architectural Walls

ceiling wood cladding panelsArchitectural walls are another type of demountable walls. Like demountable walls, these systems are movable and rearrangeable. These modular panels help businesses optimize office spaces while simultaneously creating the aesthetic they want.

Architectural walls are available as either unitized or component-based systems. There are advantages and drawbacks to consider for each of these options.

Advantages of unitized architectural walls:

  • Faster installations occur
  • They can arrive pre-wired
  • Offers businesses more flexibility
  • Some unitized systems are available with wall-mounted furniture
  • However, there are some drawbacks of unitized architectural walls:
  • Adjusting to unexpected field conditions isn’t as easy.
  • Every panel requires vertical mullion.
  • It isn’t possible to source the glass locally.
  • These systems tend to have a more substantial profile.

After understanding the advantages and drawbacks of unitized architectural walls, businesses need to look at these factors for component-based systems.

Advantages of component-based architectural walls:

  • If necessary, it’s possible to field cut profiles.
  • It’s possible to source glass locally.
  • The panels can be butt glazed.
  • These systems tend to feature a slimmer profile.

Disadvantages of component-based architectural walls:

  • It takes longer for installation to occur.
  • These systems aren’t as flexible as other options.
  • These systems require additional electrical coordination.

One of the most advantageous architectural walls features is that they’re portable, and businesses can use them multiple times. These systems feature designs that allow companies to reuse more than 90% of the system’s components when moving and reusing them following the initial installation.

Glass Walls

Some companies love the idea of an open floor plan, but they still want some separation between office spaces. Incorporating glass walls into their floor plans is an optimal solution. Businesses can choose between framed and non-framed construction to accomplish this “open space” feel.

  • There are several benefits when businesses choose to install glass walls. They include:
  • Businesses have access to various surface materials.
  • Businesses have access to a broad of powder coat finishes.
  • These wall systems are easy to install and don’t require glass-mounting tools.
  • Using glass to glass corners increases visibility and aesthetic appeal.

Glass walls also help add extra daylight to spaces that would otherwise be dark or need a light of artificial lighting. If companies need additional privacy within their workspaces, frosted glass walls are available. Not only is this wall option aesthetically pleasing, but glass walls also help create high-quality workspaces.

Movable Walls

Utilizing moving walls allows companies to use simple, practical, and quick solutions for creating workspaces. The options are limitless, including:

  • Private offices featuring wood veneer
  • Meeting rooms that incorporate bold colors that help inspire creativity
  • Open and airy working environments free of cubical walls

Incorporating movable walls into floor plans means businesses receive the same benefits as a construction featuring drywall or gypsum board. However, the difference is that they can move. That means companies can change their floor plans without demolition or costly construction renovations.

Why Businesses Should Use Modular Panels

ceiling plank panelsSometimes, companies must rent commercial space for their daily operations. In doing so, that could include restrictions regarding what they can do in the room. For example, the company may need to create office spaces or production areas with separation. If the rental space prevents this type of construction, floor-to-ceiling wall panels are an attractive option.

Having this type of control in a rental space allows companies to change the floor plan’s layout. Instead of erecting permanent walls or completing other construction projects, companies can use something versatile and changeable. That means they can incorporate branding, corporate colors, and logos within their workspaces without changing the rental space’s original facade.

Despite the popularity of open floor plan workspaces in the past, more and more companies are looking at modular panels’ features and benefits. That way, they can create partitioned workspaces that are customizable and manageable.

How Ceiling and Wall Panels Benefit Businesses

When businesses choose modular panels, that means their company is going to use a pre-engineered structure. One of the main benefits of these ceiling and wall panel systems is that it’s stronger than standard drywall installations. It’s also advantageous to many businesses to have floor-to-ceiling wall partitions that are expandable, relocatable, and reusable.

Here are some additional benefits to incorporating modular systems in your building’s design:

Cost

Modular panels, access floors, and floor-to-ceiling wall partitions feature an “all-in-one” product. That means companies don’t have to spend as much on the components and products involved in traditional construction.

Because these ceiling wall panels are pre-engineered, there are no hidden costs for architects and designers. Instead, the business receives durable and low-maintenance modular walls. Because these systems install quickly, the company doesn’t lose any money from disruptions due to construction. Low maintenance also means there’s no need for costly painting, maintenance, or other repairs.

Versatility

In some offices and other working spaces, versatility is a must. That means choosing ceiling wall panels that are easily expandable, relocatable, and reusable. Implementing these features indicates that businesses provide the highest level of flexibility to meet their company’s requirements.

These systems can install into just about any type of construction project or pre-existing rental space. Companies can incorporate a broad range of modular panel sizes with various structural elements throughout the entire building.

Acoustics

If a workspace has too many hard surfaces, that means the sound is bouncing throughout the room. However, when adding modular panels into floor plans, that helps absorb those sounds and increase privacy. Implementing ceiling and wall panels and partitions into a business’s existing floor plan helps dull sound throughout the space. When there’s substantial noise reduction in workspaces, that helps create a more productive environment.

Time savings

Time-saving benefits include that there’s no need for architects and designers to plan for this installation. Instead, the company has attractive systems that don’t involve a substantial amount of construction. That means there’s no need to seal off work areas to contain dust or stop production on the floor.

The Benefits of Integrating Panels Into Building Design

There are instances when businesses need cable management, but they cannot alter the rental space’s flooring. Using low-profile cable management access floors helps solve that problem. These access floors install directly over the rental space’s existing flooring. That way, businesses can manage:

  • Electrical cables
  • Data cables
  • Voice cable routing

Instead of using overhead cable trays or vertical poles, low-profile cable management access floors eliminate the need for creating trenches in the rental space’s concrete flooring. Businesses can access their cable systems by merely lifting an access panel.

Beyond their easy access and not needing to cut trenches into concrete, access floors have several other benefits. Those include:

  • Tripping and other safety hazards are eliminated.
  • Installation doesn’t require expertise or specialist knowledge.
  • Compared to vertical poles, this cable management solution is more aesthetically pleasing.
  • Businesses can carpet over access flooring.
  • Access flooring integrates with modular panels seamlessly.

Ceiling and Wall Panels for Business Floor Plans

As an innovative leader in the modular panel industry, Southwest Solutions Group® has expertise in designing and installing these floor plan systems. Reach out today to one of our designers by email or phone. They’ll work with you to decide the best floor-to-ceiling wall panel solution for your workspaces.

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