Optima - Glass Partitioning Systems

Major Law practice Halliwells, consolidated their Manchester based operations into a single centre of excellence in Spinningfields at the heart of Manchester's legal community.  London Architects Sheppard Robson and contractors ISG designed and managed the interior fit out of seven floors of the Hardman Square building using elegant glass and drywall partitions from Optima.

Optima’s contracting partner - Manchester based Supyk Interiors, constructed the private offices within the building, including a number of client meeting rooms where confidentiality and high levels of acoustic privacy were considered paramount.

The office cross walls were constructed from Optima 97 Advanced System Drywall, featuring a deflection head capable of accommodating +/- 25mm of live load deflection.  At the perimeter, the Optima 97 system incorporated an abutment detail with a non structural fix to the building façade, and provision for lateral movement of the façade under wind loads without compromising the acoustic performance.

The cross walls incorporate a framework which enables the structures to be completed and finished before the incorporation of freestanding storage wall units, which were inserted into preformed and trimmed apertures within the Optima 97 system. The acoustic performance of the walls, a priority for the client, was maintained by the inclusion of dense timber and sound absorbing quilt within the Optima 97 systems elements.  The junction between the storage wall units and the Optima 97 system was filled with sound absorbing material.  To prove the acoustic excellence of the construction, a sequence of laboratory tests was commissioned by Supyk and Optima at the University of Salford, witnessed by the design team and the clients project managers.

The Office fronts comprise 12mm glass modules, featuring Optima’s patented Nebula™ invisible dry joint, integrated with 12mm glass door leaves suspended from stainless steel patch fittings and pivots, with security provided by Optima’s stainless steel locksets and levers.  To follow the plan form of the building, and to reflect the curved external envelope, Optima supplied a large quantity of curved tracking and deflection heads, into which were fitted curved glass panels and curved glass door leaves seamlessly integrated with high acoustic glass fins at the junction of the cross walls.

Halliwells need for meeting rooms with the highest acoustic privacy was met with elegant double glazed bays, integrated with custom drywall constructs designed by Optima’s design team and constructed by Supyk Interiors. Optima’s double glazed doors and associated glazed modules are featured on the executive floor of the facility, providing enhanced acoustic performance and crisp aesthetics.