Innovation Campus – Glass Privacy & 3M™ DI-NOC™ Wall Panel Upgrade

Project Snapshot

• Client: Confidential global technology company – Innovation & Training Campus

• Sector: Corporate workplace / Education & training

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts

• Scope: Classroom corridors, elevator lobby, boardrooms, and open-plan work areas

• Services: Design intent support, material selection, 3M™ DI-NOC™ installation, custom decorative glass film design & install

• Duration: Phased over 3 weeks alongside fit-out activities

Overview

The client was consolidating multiple training and project teams into a single innovation campus with:

• Glass-fronted classrooms and collaboration spaces

• Multi-purpose boardrooms and meeting suites

• Large open-plan work areas for project teams

The base build gave them concrete, glass, and lighting — but the space felt raw and undefined. They needed to:

• Provide visual privacy for training rooms and meeting spaces

• Introduce warmth and texture to balance the exposed structure

• Create a sense of division and zoning without building solid walls

• Keep sightlines open to encourage transparency and collaboration

Architectural Fusion Finishes was engaged to help achieve all of this using surface finishes rather than construction.

The Challenge

• Too much exposure on glass. Full-height clear glass at classrooms and boardrooms made sessions feel on display and created visual noise along corridors.

  
  

• Lack of warmth. Exposed concrete ceilings and long corridors risked feeling cold and institutional.

  
  

• Need for flexibility. Spaces needed to serve as classrooms, workshops, and project rooms; any solution had to work for multiple uses over time.

  
  

• Fast-track schedule. The fit-out had a fixed move-in date; all finish work had to integrate with furniture delivery and AV installations.

  
  

The brief:

Create privacy, character, and zoning while keeping the campus open, bright, and adaptable.

Our Approach & Solution

1. Zoning with custom striped glass film

Along the classroom corridor and around key meeting rooms, AFF designed a custom horizontal striped etched film treatment:

• Semi-privacy banding: Alternating frosted and clear horizontal stripes control sightlines at seated and standing eye level while maintaining transparency at the top and bottom of the glazing.

  
  

• Wayfinding & identity: In key classrooms, bold brand-colour graphics and typography (“CLASS”) were layered over the stripe pattern to create clear room identity and a memorable visual moment.

  
  

• Consistency across spaces: The same stripe rhythm is used on classroom fronts and boardroom glass, tying the entire floor together while allowing each room’s branding to vary.

The result is exactly what you see in the images: defined rooms that still feel like part of a single open environment.

2. Warmth & continuity with 3M™ DI-NOC™ wall panels

To offset the concrete and glass, AFF wrapped strategic wall surfaces and cores in 3M™ DI-NOC™ wood-grain finishes:

• Elevator lobby and core walls: Vertical panels in a light, linear wood grain give the arrival experience a hospitality feel and visually warm the concrete shell.

  
  

• Classroom and boardroom back walls: Wood-wrapped panels behind screens and whiteboards create a clean backdrop, conceal services, and visually anchor the rooms.

  
  

• Storage and workstation elements: Select millwork and storage blocks in the open office were also finished in matching DI-NOC™, creating continuity between enclosed rooms and the open floor.

Using film instead of new millwork allowed the design team to match the wood tone throughout without the cost and lead times of solid wood construction.

3. Phased installation around construction & occupancy

• AFF coordinated with the GC and client to phase glass film and DI-NOC™ installation after major trades but before final cleaning.

  
  

• Classroom and boardroom glazing was done first so AV and furniture could follow, then elevator lobby and open office elements.

  
  

• Work was sequenced to avoid slowing down other trades and to keep freshly applied films protected as the site moved toward completion.

Materials & Methods

• 3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes

  • Linear wood-grain patterns selected to complement flooring and furniture finishes.

  • Applied to:

    • Elevator lobby wall panels

    • Classroom and boardroom feature walls

    • Select storage and workstation elements in open office areas

    
    

• Custom Striped Etched Glass Film

  • High-quality frosted film, plot-cut to create repeating horizontal stripes with clear bands between.

  • Applied to full-height glass at:

    • Classroom fronts

    • Boardroom partitions

    • Select corridor glazing to soften views into meeting areas

      
      

• Installation Details

  • Precise alignment of stripes across multiple panels for seamless runs down long corridors.

  • Clean edge detailing around door frames, access control devices, and AV components.

  • DI-NOC™ installed on prepared substrates for a smooth, “factory-finished” appearance.

Results & Impact

• Privacy + openness in balance: Training rooms and boardrooms now feel appropriately private during sessions, while the transparent upper zones keep corridors and work areas bright and visually connected.

  
  

• Clear zoning without solid walls: Striped film and wood-wrapped cores subtly define classroom, collaboration, and focus zones, guiding people through the floorplate without heavy architectural interventions.

  
  

• Elevated aesthetic & employee experience: The combination of glass patterns, warm wood tones, and integrated lighting turns the campus into a space that feels closer to a design-forward studio than a traditional office or classroom block.

  
  

• Future-ready flexibility: Because the solutions are film-based, the client can update branding, privacy levels, or room functions over time without replacing glass or millwork.

  
  

• Fast, cost-effective transformation: Using 3M™ DI-NOC™ and custom glass film allowed the team to achieve a high-end look on a fast-track schedule, staying within budget while still delivering a memorable environment for staff and visitors.

Scope of Work

• Review of interior design intent and zoning requirements

• Design of custom horizontal striped glass privacy pattern

• Sampling and approval of 3M™ DI-NOC™ wood-grain finishes

• Fabrication of plot-cut striped etched film and DI-NOC™ panels

• Installation on classroom fronts, boardrooms, and corridor glazing

• Installation of DI-NOC™ on elevator lobby and feature wall panels

• Coordination with GC, AV, and furniture teams during fit-out

• Final punch-walk and touch-ups prior to client move-in