At Stanford Hospital & Clinics, transparent observation walls between surgical and adjacent spaces were essential for visibility, supervision, and training. But the same transparency created a conflict: how to provide instant privacy without introducing curtains, blinds, or physical barriers that compromise hygiene and workflow.
What was needed was not decoration.
It was a clinical solution.
The Challenge Inside Surgical Spaces
Surgical environments operate under strict priorities:
- Maintain sterility at all times
- Preserve visibility for supervision and collaboration
- Enable privacy during sensitive procedures
- Avoid surfaces and materials that collect pathogens
- Prevent construction disruption in active hospital zones
Traditional privacy tools fail these tests. Curtains harbor contaminants. Blinds require touch. Fixed films remove visibility permanently. None align with infection-control logic or modern healthcare design.
The Smart Glass Approach
Switchable PriWatt® film was applied directly onto existing glass partitions separating the spaces. No glass removal. No demolition. No interruption to daily operations.
Each panel gained independent control — allowing staff to decide, in real time, which areas remain visible and which become private.
The transformation from clear to opaque happens instantly, with a simple wall switch, preserving the glass as a clean, disinfectable surface.
Why Hospitals Specifically Need Switchable Glass
Privacy Without Physical Contact
Staff can change visibility without touching blinds, cords, or curtains. This reduces contamination points and supports sterile protocol.
Infection Control by Design
The surface remains pure glass:
- Non-porous
- Easy to disinfect
- No fabrics or moving components
- Fully compatible with hospital sanitation routines
This is privacy that doesn’t fight hygiene.
Natural Light Without Compromise
Healthcare design increasingly recognizes the role of daylight in recovery and staff wellbeing. Switchable glass allows:
- Full transparency when needed
- Instant privacy without darkening the environment
- Adaptive control of light while preserving openness
Workflow Efficiency in Critical Moments
Seconds matter in surgical settings. Staff can:
- Create privacy during procedures
- Restore visibility for supervision or teaching
- Control each panel independently
No delays. No adjustments. No friction.
Retrofit Capability — Essential for Hospitals
Most medical facilities cannot shut down areas for renovations. PriWatt® works with existing glass, avoiding:
- Construction dust
- Downtime
- Structural changes
- Major capital work
The Outcome
Observation and privacy now coexist without compromise. The environment remains bright, sterile, and visually open — yet can become private instantly when required.
This project proves that switchable glass is not an aesthetic upgrade for hospitals.
It is functional medical infrastructure aligned with real clinical needs.
For Healthcare Architects, Planners, and Facility Managers
Hospitals demand environments that are:
- Sterile
- Flexible
- Efficient
- Respectful of patient dignity
- Easy to maintain
PriWatt® switchable glass answers all of these at once — something no curtain, blind, or static film can achieve.
