CASE STUDY

Entering the massive light-filled lobby of American Water’s 250,000 sf LEED Platinum headquarters in Camden, NJ, two sparkling 4-story “water walls” invite one to pause a moment and drink it all in. As the gleaming five-story riverfront complex is approached from street level, employees, visitors and passersby can see clear through the lobby to spectacular views of the Delaware River, Ben Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia skyline.

Throughout the building, conference rooms, huddle areas and a variety of private spaces surround the open atrium lobby. To create the flexible training spaces this utility company’s 600+ employees demand, Gensler specified (2) Modernfold Acousti-Seal Encore Single Panel Operable Partition Systems.

The single panels move smoothly and easily turn a corner with the RT100 track system. The “T” interface of the two systems allows various set up configurations of the individual panels. One employee can quickly and quietly transform the space at a moment’s notice.

Located on Level 5, the company’s sleek modern gray and white training rooms are punctuated by a soothing blue accent wall. The operable partitions also offer generous work surfaces with white marker boards located on one side of each of the walls. The rest of the panels are finished in Designtex “Decible” fabric in Dapple Grey. Pass doors in matching fabric complete the stylish partitions and allow easy access to the individual rooms.

The sturdy steel frames with roll formed and welded steel skins stand up to the room’s weekly reconfigurations. The 4 1/4” thick panels boast a 52 STC to ensure privacy between spaces.
SureSetTM 2” manual bottom seals work to further maintain sound control with the simple turn of a crank. To keep the space looking tidy, the panels store out of site in remote pockets with doors finished to match the panels when the walls are fully open.

Like its nearby neighbors, Subaru HQ (featured as last month’s case study https://www.modernfoldstyles.com/subaru-hq/, and Campbell Soup World HQ, American Water has also contributed to the revitalization of Camden by putting down roots in the Gateway neighborhood.