CASE STUDY:
Arup Engineering — Edison, NJ

Project Overview – Symmetry in Motion

Great architecture often appears effortless, but simplicity at this level requires extraordinary precision.

For Arup Engineering’s New Jersey office, DESAI/CHIA envisioned a workplace defined by openness, proportion, and disciplined geometry. The design relied on expansive glass enclosures, ultra-thin profiles, and carefully balanced sightlines to create an environment where transparency supports both collaboration and focus.

At the center of the project is a striking 14-foot bi-parting sliding glass wall that transforms the conference space while preserving the clean architectural language of the office. PK-30 was engaged to engineer and deliver a customized solution that would maintain perfect symmetry, eliminate visual clutter, and integrate seamlessly into the architect’s vision.

The result is a workplace where every panel, opening, and detail contributes to a cohesive architectural experience built around clarity, movement, and precision.

Challenge – When Simplicity Becomes Complex

The more minimal the design, the less room there is for error.

The architectural intent demanded exceptionally thin framing, expansive glass surfaces, and a conference enclosure that could open dramatically without compromising the visual balance of the space. Achieving this level of refinement required more than a standard partition system.

Key challenges included:

• Maintaining perfect symmetry across large glass elevations
• Engineering a 14-foot bi-parting sliding opening without a floor track
• Preserving uninterrupted sightlines throughout the office
• Customizing panel dimensions to align with architectural geometry
• Creating custom flush pulls that complemented rather than distracted from the design
• Coordinating multiple room types across two floors while maintaining a consistent visual language

The project required a solution where engineering performance remained virtually invisible, allowing the architecture itself to take center stage.

Solution – Engineered Around Architectural Intent

Every component was customized to support the architect’s pursuit of proportion, transparency, and balance.

Rather than adapting the design to fit a standard product, PK-30 worked with the project team to tailor the system around the architecture itself. Panel sizes were carefully engineered to reinforce the symmetry of each elevation, while ultra-slim profiles preserved openness and natural light throughout the space.

A signature feature of the project is the custom 14-foot bi-parting sliding door system. Designed without a floor track, the opening creates a seamless transition between spaces while maintaining the clean lines and unobstructed circulation envisioned by DESAI/CHIA. To further support the architectural language, PK-30 developed custom flush pulls that integrate directly into the system, providing a refined user experience without interrupting the minimalist aesthetic.

Project Scope Summary

• Two (2) fixed glass panels (PL-1 and PL-2) flanking a center sliding door pair
• Two (2) sliding glass doors (D-1 and D-2), each 83 3/16″ wide, operating on a recessed overhead track system
• Total system span of approximately 331″ door-to-door with a 331″ LD V.I.F.
• Glazing of all panels and doors with 1/4″ tempered glass
• Brush seal and custom flush-pull hardware at sliding doors
• Key lock (deadbolt) and fastener/backout hardware as specified

Results – Why PK-30

The final space succeeds because the engineering disappears and the architecture remains.

The completed installation delivers a workplace defined by elegance, openness, and precision. Natural light moves freely throughout the office, while the glass systems create clear boundaries without sacrificing connectivity. The large bi-parting opening introduces flexibility without visual compromise, allowing spaces to transform while preserving the overall design intent.

Conclusion – The PK-30 Experience

Architectural simplicity is only successful when supported by precision engineering.

The Arup Engineering project demonstrates how customized solutions can elevate an architectural vision beyond what standard systems allow. Through close collaboration with DESAI/CHIA, PK-30 developed a glass wall solution that reinforces the project’s defining principles of symmetry, transparency, and refined performance.

The PK-30 Experience is built on our ability to partner with design teams, customize every aspect of our systems, and solve complex architectural challenges without compromising aesthetics. From engineering panel sizes around critical sightlines to developing custom hardware and track-free sliding solutions, PK-30 delivered a result that integrates seamlessly into the architecture while enhancing the way the space functions.

Our commitment to quality, customization, and design collaboration helped transform a technical requirement into a defining architectural feature—creating a workplace that is as beautiful in its execution as it is in its design.