I work for an imaging department — that is, we do ultrasound, x-ray, bone density… We’re designing a new office that is going into an end unit in a strip mall.
I hate to lose the light from all the windows down the side, so I’m wondering if we can build one of the interior walls from glass block. It would block the view, but allow the light. (I’m thinking maybe the staff room, or something that wouldn’t compromise patient privacy, along this wall. Obviously wouldn’t be putting the x-ray room along a window.)
It’s something I’ll bring up with our contractor, but it’s nice to know other opinions on it before I talk it over with him. I’d like to know if you think it’s crazy; can you build the top half of the wall from block; is it overly expensive to do it. I don’t need to worry about the lead factor in the block, the x-ray room is in the back corner.
Opinions pro and con welcomed.
Replies
There's no reason not to, excpept maybe money of course. Check around online for some styles of block with a lot of refraction if you think privacy might be an issue. I imagine some people would rather not be seen sitting in the waiting room.
But yeah, glass block walls are done all the time.
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For privacy look at the IceScapes and Essex blocks, we use both quite often in bathrooms. Both will give a fair amount of light transmission and a good degree of privacy.
Building with glass blocks is not terribly expensive though it is quite a bit more then a traditional wall. In the grand scheme of a commercial finish, a few glass block wall shouldn't break the budget.
The idea of a partial framed wall in my opinion is a good one. It will allow you to put electrical devices and any necessary plumbing beneath the glass block walls, most of the light will probably becoming from above waste line anyway.
You could introduce some glass block into the exam rooms themselves if you placed windows made from them in the upper 1/4 of the wall.
Use glass block above 5 or 6 ft and there wont be any privacy issues, and you'll still get lots of light.
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