Cradles to Crayons (C2C) is a non-profit organization helping homeless and low-income children in Boston and Philadelphia get the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, valued, and ready to learn. When C2C Boston relocated its "Giving Factory" warehouse and operations center to a new building, the move was needed and welcome, but it wasn't without challenges - starting with the loading dock area. Used for truck deliveries and customer drop-offs, the loading dock was open to the rest of the Giving Factory warehouse, creating weather and temperature problems.
In the Giving Factory warehouse, volunteers and staff inspect, sort, and package all the donated materials. In order to keep workers comfortable and productive during the long Boston winter, C2C wanted to enclose the loading dock area to help keep the snow, sleet, and cold temperatures out. However, C2C also wanted the flexibility to open the area when the weather was nice.
Working with Rite-Hite and facilities consultants The Beacon Group, C2C decided to install Zoneworks TZD Loading Dock Enclosure, which consist of flexible, insulated wall panels constructed of layers of industrial vinyl fabric wrapped around antimicrobial polyester batting.
Flexibility and Control
The fabric curtain walls are made of five-ft-wide panels interconnected with Velcro® to span the width of a given space. The curtain height extends to the desired length. Typically, the top of the flexible wall is attached to ceiling joists. The weight of the curtains, while minimal to the roof structure, holds the bottom in place in almost all applications. Velcro corner connectors are used to form corner joints.
The curtain walls, which cannot be used as load-bearing walls, can be installed as stationary systems or walls that slide open and closed. If a wall has a doorway, the fabric panels are fitted around a framework. The curtain panels are also designed to fit snugly around pipes, conduit, and other obstructions with simple field cuts, which are resealed with a special tape designed for the engineered material. Lastly, the modular design allows the walls to be easily relocated, removed, or reconfigured as needs change.
A custom curtain wall was designed and engineered for C2C's Boston operation, which allowed sections of the insulated curtains to be slid into an open position during nice spring, summer, and fall days; or into a closed position during bad weather. In addition, a portion of the enclosure included semi-permanent traffic doors that provide access for pedestrians, pushcarts and forklifts.
According to C2C's director of operations, the loading dock curtain walls have helped C2C keep its volunteers and staff comfortable year round, while savings them money on winter heating costs.
