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DECEMBER 2019 | 25 Walls & Ceilings Wall and ceiling options go deep for 2020 by STACEY MCLACHLAN D rywall's days are numbered: when it comes to walls and ceilings, next- gen green walls, eco-friendly insulating foam, and elevated acoustic options are allowing for the creation of more comfortable, beautiful, and sustainable spaces. Prefabricated walls are trending for 2020, and it's not hard to see why: these products reduce both mess and construction time. "The speed of our product to install without the mess of dust and paint has recreated some more opportunities for us in getting space completed and up and running in a short length of time," explains Ron Kent, sales manager for Envirowall. Envirowall's vinyl-covered gypsum panels blend traditional drywall and paint- ing situations to create something uniquely in demand for commercial spaces, which are tapping into the ease of prefab for quick and easy space-making as their operations grow. "We are seeing a use for our product in big warehouse situations, like Amazon, where they need to create a barrier or create some definition in a large space to make it a little more personal and give some definition," says Kent. "Additionally, the cannabis business has been good for our ceiling business this year – the need for a clean bright environment has made it the product of choice." S T R E A M L I N E D C E I L I N G S Walls that go up easily are popular with contractors; up on the ceiling, designs that improve ease of day-to-day use are just as in demand. USG's new Barz suspended ceil- ing system pairs acoustic functionality with stylish design. Micro-perforations and acoustical infill on the Barz system provide maximum sound absorption. Boasting "scale and access with esthetics," Barz offers quick and easy access to mechanicals like sprinklers and HVAC via a 70 percent open design – and, luckily, endless finishes. Choose from 100 percent recycled cotton from jeans, recycled aluminum or faux wood, or in the future, parametric performations that create a larger scale design. Beneath The Surface WA L L T O WA L L C U S T O M I Z AT I O N For ceilings and walls alike, customized style is what consumers are hoping for, in both commercial and industrial applications. "Recently, there has been an insurgence of materials from manufacturers that provide design freedom and flexibility," explains Ronaldo Chiovitti, director of sales and business develop- ment for PC350. "These include colours, sustainable materials, and architectural products that are visually enticing and functional as well." Flexible options from PC350, for example, run the gamut from single- to double-glazing walls that com- plement spaces and are construction friendly. And that's just for walls: smartly designed ceiling materials from PC350 and others can help reduce workplace noise, while creating a stimulating work environment that promotes productivity and creativity that also emphasizes corporate culture. W O R K I N G I T Complementary finishes may be one thing that office designers are searching for in their ceiling and wall choice, but in the workplace, the best walls are ones that create some moments of privacy in increasingly open-concept environments. Companies like PC350 work to create this from the outside in. "As a manufacturer of Interior Office Glazing, we solve this by providing various options," explains Chiovitti. Single or double inline sliding doors with optional synchro-technology, when used with custom glass thickness, can minimize unwanted sound leakage, while offering sliding converging corner doors. A N E W L E A F Though walls may, ultimately, be intended to keep nature out, innovators have been continuously pushing to bring greenery and plants back into our home. "Biophilia," as the love of plants has come to be known, is rapidly being integrated into architecture and interior design. "It reveals an innate human inclination to focus on and interact with biodiversity," says Hal Thorne, GSky Plant Systems chairman and CEO. "In short, the benefits are many. The green design offers health and psychological benefits to individuals; the absence of flora makes people less healthy and less happy." With greenwall products like GSky, it's easier than ever to incorporate the benefits of plants. "As the urgent question of sustainable, healthy design spurs the green wall market to new heights, architects and designers must consider market trends and recent growth to best plan for future biophilic development," explains Thorne. GSky's Versa Wall's innovative tray designs help make the living green wall a more sustainable option for long-term indoor use. Think of it as a bottom-up redesign of the living green wall, one that fills a need in the market for a reliable multi-climate indoor solution, even in geographies where previous green options may have failed. PC350's Interior Office Glazing minimizes unwanted sound leakage. Versa Wall from GSky Plant Systems. USG's new Barz suspended ceiling system.

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