Acrovyn Curved Door

The Acrovyn Curved Door was a collaboration between a team of architects, designers, builders and healthcare professionals for the University of Virginia Hospital patient tower expansion. “The big concern brought to our attention at the start of design was that the nursing staff needed to have a clear line of sight to the patients at all times,” says Matt Kidwell, senior project manager, Skanska USA Building Inc. “The nurse is responsible for multiple patients and they can’t be in every room at the same time. Having that clear line of sight from the nurses’ station was a key issue at the beginning of the project that really drove our solution to this issue.” To give the new healthcare tower a friendlier and more private atmosphere, architects envisioned rounded walls and curved spaces. Incorporating radius doorways gave staff wider sight lines into patient rooms. With the ability to visually check on patients, rather than having to walk into each room and potentially disturb those who are resting, time is reduced and patient comfort is put prioritized. Space-saving is another benefit of the sliding door. By sliding along its track, it remains against the wall, not requiring clearance into the room, as would a swinging door. A sliding door also benefits sightlines as the door can't be left open, inhibiting views into the room. Based on Perkins & Will designs, CS engineered a door that would follow the radius ut have the durability to stand up to years of a busy healthcare environment. Acrovyn Curved Door presented manufacturing challenges in that the door is radiused and features additional ribbing and supports within. With ultra-durable Acrovyn on the door’s exterior, these doors can handle more than their share of the abrasion and cleaning typical of a healthcare or commercial setting.