Phone
(903) 583-7500
Project Overview
Physicians Realty Trust wanted to connect two adjacent office spaces within its Milwaukee workplace while preserving the warm, rustic character of the existing interior. The goal was to create a large operable opening that could allow the rooms to function together when needed while maintaining separation and privacy during normal office use.
The architectural challenge was finding a partition large enough to meaningfully connect the spaces without introducing conventional overhead tracks or an industrial appearance into the finished office environment. Because the opening would become a prominent interior feature, its glazing and appearance also needed to complement the surrounding wood, glass, and architectural finishes.
Renlita developed a custom Sovereign vertical lift bifold system measuring approximately 14 feet wide by 8 feet high, combining a compact stacking configuration with clear insulated glass and a faux wood-grain architectural finish.
The Challenge
Connecting two finished office spaces required an operable partition that could create a substantial clear opening without sacrificing valuable interior space to conventional overhead tracks.
Appearance was equally important. The opening occupied a prominent position within an interior defined by wood architectural elements, glass, and warm finishes. A conventional commercial door would have looked out of place, so the system needed to provide the functionality of a large movable partition while visually belonging within the existing office design.
The Solution
Renlita engineered a custom Sovereign vertical lift bifold system approximately 14 feet wide by 8 feet high to create a flexible connection between the two office spaces. Instead of extending horizontal tracks into the room, the Sovereign’s panels fold and stack compactly above the opening, preserving usable space and keeping the surrounding office free from intrusive overhead hardware.
The door was constructed with 1/2-inch clear insulated glass, allowing visibility and borrowed light to continue between the adjoining spaces when the partition is closed. The glazing was structurally bonded to the system, helping create a clean architectural appearance appropriate for the finished interior.
One of the project’s most distinctive details was the treatment of the aluminum door frame. Rather than using a conventional solid-color finish, the system received a faux wood-grain powder coat over aluminum selected specifically for the project. That treatment allowed the large operable partition to coordinate with the surrounding wood architecture while retaining the durability and structural advantages of an aluminum-framed system. The original project documentation likewise identifies the wood-grain powder coat as central to integrating the door with the office’s rustic aesthetic.
The completed system gives Physicians Realty Trust a large architectural partition that can separate the offices when privacy is required or open vertically to create a more connected collaborative environment.
Key Benefits
Flexible Space Planning
The approximately 14-foot-wide Sovereign opening allows two adjacent offices to function independently or as a larger connected environment. When raised, the bifold panels stack above the opening rather than traveling along conventional overhead tracks, preserving usable interior space while supporting meetings, collaboration, and changing workplace needs.
Architectural Integration
A custom faux wood-grain powder coat over the aluminum framing allows the Sovereign system to coordinate with the office’s existing wood architecture instead of appearing as an industrial door inserted into a finished workplace. Clear insulated glazing further integrates the partition into the interior by maintaining visibility and light between the adjoining spaces.
Space-Efficient Vertical Operation
The Sovereign system moves vertically and folds above the opening, eliminating the long horizontal track system associated with conventional sectional doors. This keeps the adjoining office areas visually cleaner and allows the opening to provide privacy when closed and broad access when opened, which was one of the central objectives documented for the project.