Architectural walls have become a clear alternative to traditional construction that can provide all the benefits of a permanent building wall—and then some. The use of these modular partitions have drastically cut into conventional construction business and created new options for how companies design and plan their office space.

Particularly, these architectural walls provide aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective advantages, as well as unique abilities to adapt to a company’s needs and to offer an ecologically friendly alternative to standard construction practices.

Architectural Walls: Aesthetically Pleasing and Seamlessly Integrated

Architectural partitions are intended to complement the structural and architectural elements already present in a building. They are often designed with clean, simple lines so as to accompany any interior design, and can include glass, laminate, wood, or any combination so as to give each business a unique and creative style. And combining elements of the building with the office furniture, office partitions can seamlessly connect the two into a beautiful and professional setting.

Not only are these architectural walls pleasing to look at, they have a configurability that is not at all available with standard construction. For example, IMT Modular Walls has a demountable wall system that allows businesses to quickly reorganize their workplace as their staff changes, or lets them completely remove the demountable partitions and set them up in a new location if the company relocates.

Modular office partitions solve many typical office problems, including the provision of privacy for all of their employees while, at the same time, promoting collaboration. Traditional walls are often plain and dull, and permanently separate workers from each other. The use of glass partitions could be an easy solution; they would still provide privacy, but the overall idea would support team projects and collaboration. And there is the ability to reconfigure as projects start and end. Also, glass partition walls would allow natural light throughout a space, giving the office the impression of being much larger than it is.

Unique Characteristics of Architectural Walls

Besides being pleasant to look at and configurable in almost any combination you can think of, these architectural walls, there are a number of options that are available in most demountable walls systems:

  • Electrical wiring
  • Ventilation, air conditioning or heating systems
  • Fiber optics or high-speed cable systems
  • Removable panels to access internal wiring
  • Noise reduction/acoustic partitions

Most of these options are available either when the modular system is originally configured, or can be done as a later upgrade. Conventional construction requires these systems to be in place at the time of installation, otherwise it would result in a hefty cost to you at a later date, as well as temporarily displacing your employees while upgrading. Or else you would have the systems outside of the walls, taking up valuable space.

There are also acoustic partitions available that have noise reduction properties equal to or better than those of drywall. Utilizing these partitions would further allow privacy for your employees, but at the same time, not forfeiting the option of collaboration.

The Usage of Sustainable Products in Architectural Walls

Typically, drywall is made from non-sustainable products. And not only that, a significant percentage of drywall is wasted during manufacture and install, and is seldom ever re-used. It is also banned from disposal in some landfills.

Unlike traditional drywall, demountable partitions are often made out of sustainable products. Many companies, including IMT Modular Walls, make a concentrated effort to create their products using recycled or sustainable materials as well as sustainable processes. Additionally, the walls can be reused many times over instead of buying new products, which reduces the amount of disposed material when re-configuring offices. So, while the architectural walls are intended to improve an office environment, they can also benefit the environment outside.

Cost Effectiveness of Architectural Walls: In the Short Run and the Long

Over the last twenty—or even ten—years, constructions costs have increased almost exponentially, and because of this, the use of demountable walls and office partitions have become a more and more viable option. Yet some companies are still hesitant to choose architectural partitions, for reasons that are largely incorrect.

Often, when businesses look at construction versus architectural walls, they are comparing traditional drywall and glass office partitions, which will skew the results to the benefit of drywall. The only way to accurately compare in this case would be to evaluate the costs of office glass partitions against the costs of a glass installation, not drywall.

And when comparing modular partitions with traditional drywall, the costs being saved are undeniable. For a standard construction project, time would need to be allotted and costs incurred for the following:

  • Design and planning of the space
  • Bills for materials
  • Labour costs
  • Demolition of existing walls
  • Installing studs and drywall
  • Sanding and painting surfaces
  • Electric hardwiring, cable installation, fiber optics
  • Carpet installation costs and waste
  • Post-construction disposal and cleaning
  • Disruption of office performance

On the other hand, architectural partitions are largely considered furniture, not construction, and would only require your business going through the standard furniture acquisition process. Not only that, but they can often be painted or the facades altered so as to go along with any functional or aesthetic changes to the space, with little to no additional cost. And demountable partition walls stand directly on a finished floor, so carpet can be installed wall-to-wall, decreasing the time of installation and the amount of scraps wasted in the process.

It is also very important to note, because architectural walls are considered furniture as opposed to part of the building, there are significant tax advantages, from more incentives to faster depreciation—seven years instead of 39 years, standard for a building. This decreases the cost of the product over its lifetime, and increases its value to you, saving you a significant sum of money in the long run.

For more information on architectural walls and other modular office systems, please contact IMT Modular Walls today at 416-743-4513.

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