Designing for Wellness: Transforming New Valley Hospital with Modernfold, Smoke Guard, and Skyfold Systems

The Valley Hospital recently opened its newly renovated, fully accredited, state-of-the-art medical facility, now located in Paramus, NJ. The new hospital provides cutting-edge, patient-centric healthcare services. For over 50 years, Valley Health System has been committed to maintaining a strong culture of personal and compassionate care.

The Valley Health System wanted to provide its physicians and staff with a versatile space while reaffirming its dedication to safety. ModernfoldStyles stepped in to fulfill the hospital’s vision, collaborating with Torcon Inc. and HDR Architects and Engineers, P.C. Valley Health required an extensive range of products, including fifteen Smoke Guard M400s, three Skyfold Classic 51s, two Modernfold Acousti-Seal Legacy Single Panel systems, two Modernfold Continuously Hinged, and two Modernfold Encore Single Panel systems.

These innovative solutions were strategically installed in key areas of the hospital, such as the elevators, a large conference room, and a second multipurpose room, to create dynamic and safe environments that met the hospital’s functional requirements.

To maximize safety first and foremost, 15 Smoke Guard M400 units were installed in The Valley Hospital’s South Wing to provide critical fire and smoke protection for elevators 12, 13, and 14 across floors three through seven. Working with Fairborn Equipment, Smoke Guard M400 was carefully selected for its ability to create code-compliant smoke and draft-control assembly when used with fire-rated elevator doors, meeting both NFPA and IBC standards.

For the South Wing, the product was designed with a 48” width and 84” height, fitting the unique specifications of the hospital’s elevator opening. The frame, housing, and rails for these units were customized to ensure a secure fit around the elevator and within the surrounding structure to maintain proper seals for the system’s operation.

Smoke Guard M400 systems utilize DuraNet™, a reinforced translucent screen with flexible magnet strips that adhere to the ferrous elevator door frames. This magnetic seal is critical for blocking vertical smoke migration in the event of a fire, ensuring the elevator shafts remain safe from smoke infiltration.

M400 deploys when smoke detectors are triggered using standard 120 VAC building power, or in the event of power loss, the fail-safe system automatically deploys to seal the opening. The units can also be maneuvered manually through screen rewind switches located on both sides of the curtain. For enhanced reliability, M400 can maintain functionality for at least eight hours with a 240 VAC line battery backup. These units eliminate the need for costly mechanical systems, optimizing space in elevator lobbies and vestibules.

For The Valley Hospital’s large conference room on level one, ModernfoldStyles installed two Modernfold Acousti-Seal Legacy Single Panel partitions, providing a flexible solution to divide the expansive space. Each Acousti-Seal wall consisted of five standard panels measured at 43.38”, allowing for smooth and efficient room reconfigurations. The panels operate using a #RT100 track system with dual rotating nylon trolleys installed along a 47’-2” track width. They also feature Modernfold Type IVB Pocket doors for easy accessibility.

The expandable panel closure method, paired with fixed top seals and SM2 crank bottom seals, guarantees an optimal STC rating of 50, further reinforced by 3” thick panels. The excellent sound control allows the conference room to be utilized by multiple parties simultaneously, an important factor for medical and administrative meetings within the hospital.

The panels were constructed with MDF skins within a welded steel panel frame and finished with Wilsonart Plastic Laminate Classic Linen 4943-38 for a clean aesthetic that blends with the hospital’s design. The trim, hinges, expandable nose, and jamb finish all feature Modernfold Standard Vinyl Natural Choice, matching the vinyl top seals for a consistent look throughout the system.

Each of our products is designed to accommodate the given area’s size and configuration. For this conference room, Acousti-Seal Legacy stands at an overall height of 12’-0”, with a hanging weight of 8 lbs/SF.

While Modernfold Acousti-Seal Legacy Single-Panel consisted of five individual panels, Modernfold Acousti-Seal Continuously Hinged has panels that operate in a continuous train, connected as one complete unit along an electric track.

Two Acousti-Seal Continuously Hinged were also installed in the hospital’s large conference room along a #30 track system with durable steel ball-bearing trolleys and a side jamb closure method. The electrical system offers keyed switches to prevent unauthorized operation and has integrated safety systems that allow for ease of use.

Each connected panel was constructed with MDF board and finished in Wilsonart Classic Linen 4943-38 with its hinges, trim, and jamb finished with Natural Choice 252.

Acousti-Seal Continuously Hinged was installed with fixed top seals and automatic bottom seals that engage as soon as the partition is fully extended, providing a secure closure without the need for manual adjustment. The seals, paired with the 3” panel thickness, permitted a 50 STC, the same as the Single Panel partition.

Hanging at 8lbs/SF, the product’s installation width was 22’-5”, and its fabrication height was 11’-11.25” with a finished opening height of 12’0”, further aligning with the other Modernfold partitions within the conference room.

Along with the large conference room, ModernfoldStyles additionally completed an installation in the smaller conference room on level one with two Modernfold Encore Single Panel partitions featuring a total installation width of 20’ and panel height of 12’.0”.

The track system used was the #RT100 right-angle suspension system, a feature that offers multi-directional adaptability for more complex partition layouts. Its dual rotating nylon trolleys ensure smooth, quiet movement when arranging the steel-skinned panels.

Each of the four panels was constructed with a thickness of 4.31”, automatic top seals, and Sureset Manual 2” bottom seals, offering an impressive 52 STC. Hanging at 8.2 lbs/SF, the panels were custom-finished with Wilsonart Classic Linen 4943-38, paired with a full perimeter trim in a matching color, while its hinges, trim, and jamb were painted in Natural Choice 252.

Every Modernfold product in the conference room utilized the same colors to maintain cohesiveness. All these partitions offer top-notch performance, making it simple to transform the conference room into smaller, private spaces as needed while maintaining optimal sound control.

To complete the dynamic space management transformation in The Valley Hospital’s large conference room on level one, ModernfoldStyles installed three Skyfold Classic 51 walls. These retractable walls were chosen for their ability to fold vertically and store flush with the ceiling, maximizing floor space when the partitions are not in use.

The three walls stand 12’ high from finished floor to pocket, while each varies in width to accommodate the room’s layout:

• F01 spans 16’4” and weighs around 1800 lbs.
• B01 is 12’11” and weighs approximately 1465 lbs.
• B01 is 12’11” and weighs approximately 1465 lbs.

Despite its substantial weight, the Skyfold Classic 51 system operates effortlessly, controlled via a Skyfold key switch that automates the retraction process.

The panels are finished with Carnegie Xorel 6427 #766 and black perimeter seals, which not only complement the panel finish but also provide superior sound control, resulting in a 51 STC.

Each space management system not only provided seamless room reconfigurations but also guaranteed optimal sound control, privacy, efficiency, and ease of use. Paired with the Smoke Guard’s safety features, the installation at The Valley Hospital demonstrates how our products can help improve functionality, flexibility, and overall well-being.

At ModernfoldStyles, we not only have the ability to install a wide range of products, but we’re also here to support you if your products need to be serviced. With our full-time, factory-trained technicians, we offer repairs, refurbishes, refinishes, and maintenance on all of these systems. To learn more about our service division or find out about how each of our products can be customized to fit your commercial or residential needs, contact us today.