Developments in the quality and appearance of architectural glass have made it one of the premier building materials. It enhances the look of a building and improves the health of the people who work there.

Architectural glass is characterized by glazing, which hardens the glass and makes it more suitable as a building component. It is also frequently laminated for strength or to impart other functions like noise reduction. Tempering architectural glass adds a factor of safety as tempered glass does not shatter.

There are three major ways that a company benefits from the use of architectural glass.

1. Light. Studies have shown that employees who work in areas that are exposed to sunlight through windows report a higher quality of life. They also report that they get a higher quality of sleep at night and sleep up to 46 minutes longer than comparable employees who work in windowless spaces.

Light improves morale and makes the workspace feel more open and airy. With modern ways of tinting glass, windows can let in plenty of light but block the UV rays that can damage skin and fade furnishings.

2. Noise. People can be exposed to noise pollution even if their workplace is not particularly loud. The constant sounds of ringing phones, humming office machines and chattering colleagues can be annoying and stressful. Noise pollution can increase blood pressure, disrupt sleep patterns at night and cause an overall loss of productivity.

It is possible to use glass barriers in the interior of an office space to cut down on the transfer of noise. Laminated glass is available that includes a layer of noise-resistant material. This glass can help create quite zones and keep noise from traveling freely throughout an open office space.

3. Privacy. Glass walls with various levels of opacity can provide privacy for the people in an office while letting in light. While solid walls can make people feel isolated from each other and closed in, glass walls give a sense of community and connectedness.

Glass is available with a wide variety of finishes and designs that can be very decorative or very functional, depending on the needs of the business. Attractive glass panels can be used in an open office area to divide the space but still allow team members to quickly check to see who is in and who is out. Conference rooms and manager’s offices can have glass that gives complete privacy but still allows light to flow through the space.