Architectural Walls / Glass Walls
Architectural Glass Walls
Glass that sets how much a room reveals, in the colour, pattern and finish the space calls for.
Egan architectural glass is specified for interior walls, partitions and feature applications where glass performance, finish and customization matter. Options include patterned, etched, laminated, printed, back-painted and writable glass, with custom sizing, colour matching and fabrication to suit the project.
Discover how your next project can get more out of every wall. Explore Egan’s solutions or connect with our team to specify exactly what your space needs.
Visual Effects Across Glass
Illustrative simulation
Everything is visible: faces, screens and true colour.
PrivacyPrivacy 1 of 5
Best forViews, daylight, open collaboration
TreatmentTinted glass, clear
Patterned glass features an integral textured or embossed surface that adds privacy, light diffusion, and visual interest without printed graphics.
PrivacyPrivacy 2–3 of 5
Best forDoors, partitions, screens
Etched glass ranges from subtle surface treatments to deeper decorative patterns. Light etching creates a softer, more understated finish, while deeper etching adds stronger texture, depth and definition to the glass.
PrivacyPrivacy 2–4 of 5
Available combinationsSurface or deep etching glass, backpainted & acid-etched/satin glass
Laminated glass places colour, pattern, graphics or specialty materials between layers of glass. This creates a finished surface with added depth while protecting the design within the glass.
PrivacyPrivacy 4 of 5
Decorative InterlayersFabric, metal mesh, etched/frosted glass, printed film, digital print and other project specific inserts
Printed glass can use full-coverage graphics across the entire panel or partial coverage that leaves areas of the glass clear. Use imagery, pattern, gradients or branding to control how much of the glass is printed and how much remains transparent.
PrivacyPrivacy 1–5 of 5
Available combinationsBackpainted & printed glass, print & acid-etched/satin glass, full coverage printed glass
Back-painted glass applies colour to the back of the panel, creating a smooth, opaque surface with depth and a clean finish. It can be produced in standard or custom colours for wall cladding, feature walls and writable applications.
PrivacyPrivacy 5 of 5
Available combinationsBackpainted & printed glass, backpainted & acid-etched/satin glass, solid backpainted colour
Six ways to build a glass wall.
Patterned, etched and laminated glass give a room privacy while still letting daylight through. Choose how private the room should feel, from lightly blurred to fully screened.
Patterned Glass
Patterned glass has an integral textured or embossed surface that adds privacy, light diffusion and visual interest without applied graphics.
- Integral textured or embossed surface
- Doors, partitions, office fronts and screens
PrivacyPrivacy 2–3 of 5
ColourClear or tinted
SafetySet by the base glass
WritableNo
Best forDoors, partitions, screens
Etched Glass
Etched glass adds permanent pattern and privacy to the glass surface, with the design, scale and level of transparency developed for the space.
- Surface etching — subtle to fully frosted designs
- Deep etching — deeper dimensional detail where glass thickness allows
PrivacyPrivacy 2–4 of 5
ColourGlass tone; whiter on low-iron
SafetySet by the base glass
WritableNo
Best forOffice fronts, meeting rooms, feature partitions
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass bonds layers of glass and interlayers to meet specific safety, privacy, decorative or acoustic requirements, for partitions, doors, screens, office fronts and other high-use glazing.
- Clear, coloured, decorative, printed or privacy interlayers
- Additional design and safety options for interior glazing
PrivacyPrivacy 1–4 of 5
ColourThrough the interlayer
Safety Safety glazing
Best forDoors, office fronts, high-use glazing
Custom colour, pattern, artwork and imagery can be applied to glass for wall cladding, feature walls and interior partition applications.
Printed Glass
Printed glass carries imagery, graphics and pattern on the glass itself, from full-coverage colour to partial designs that leave areas clear for light and views.
- Custom artwork and repeat patterns
- Partial or full coverage for privacy
PrivacyPrivacy 1–5 of 5
ColourFull colour
SafetyBase glass, or laminated interlayer
Best forFeature walls, privacy bands, wayfinding
Back-Painted Glass
Back-painted glass delivers consistent, opaque colour with a clean, highly finished appearance, well suited to cladding, reception areas, partitions, casework and feature installations where colour coordination and easy maintenance matter.
- Solid-colour decorative glass
- Low-iron glass available for improved colour accuracy
PrivacyPrivacy 5 of 5
ColourCustom colour matching
Best forCladding, reception, casework, feature walls
Architectural Glass Walls
Glass that sets how much a room reveals, in the colour, pattern and finish the space calls for.
Choose glass by what people should see, then by the finish.
Egan architectural glass is specified for interior walls, partitions and feature applications where glass performance, finish and customization matter. Options include patterned, etched, laminated, printed and back-painted glass, with custom sizing, colour matching and fabrication to suit the project.
Each option changes how much someone on the other side of the wall can see, from everything to nothing. Try them on the same room below, then compare the five glass types.
Visual Effects Across Glass
Pattern, etching, lamination, print and back-painting each change the way glass reads in the space. This comparison shows the range from transparent and textured to graphic and fully opaque.
Illustrative simulation
Everything is visible: faces, screens and true colour.
PrivacyPrivacy 1 of 5
Best forViews, daylight, open collaboration
Shapes and movement come through. Detail breaks up in the texture of the glass.
PrivacyPrivacy 2–3 of 5
Best forDoors, partitions, screens
Light and silhouettes come through the frost. The etched design decides where you can still see.
PrivacyPrivacy 2–4 of 5
Best forOffice fronts, meeting rooms
Soft light and faint shapes, no detail. The interlayer screens the room, and the glass is safety glazing too.
PrivacyPrivacy 4 of 5
Best forFocus rooms, clinical spaces, high-use glazing
The glass carries an image. Coverage can be partial, so views stay open exactly where you want them.
PrivacyPrivacy 1–5 of 5
Best forFeature walls, privacy bands, wayfinding
Fully opaque colour with a glossy finish. The glass stops being a window and becomes a wall surface.
PrivacyPrivacy 5 of 5
Best forCladding, feature walls, casework
Five ways to build a glass wall.
Privacy Glass
Patterned, etched and laminated glass give a room privacy while still letting daylight through. Choose how private the room should feel, from lightly blurred to fully screened.
Patterned Glass
Patterned glass has an integral textured or embossed surface that adds privacy, light diffusion and visual interest without applied graphics.
- Integral textured or embossed surface
- Doors, partitions, office fronts and screens
PrivacyPrivacy 2–3 of 5
ColourClear or tinted
SafetySet by the base glass
Best forDoors, partitions, screens
Etched Glass
Etched glass adds permanent pattern and privacy to the glass surface, with the design, scale and level of transparency developed for the space.
- Surface etching — subtle to fully frosted designs
- Deep etching — deeper dimensional detail where glass thickness allows
PrivacyPrivacy 2–4 of 5
ColourGlass tone; whiter on low-iron
SafetySet by the base glass
Best forOffice fronts, meeting rooms, feature partitions
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass bonds layers of glass and interlayers to meet specific safety, privacy, decorative or acoustic requirements, for partitions, doors, screens, office fronts and other high-use glazing.
- Clear, coloured, decorative, printed or privacy interlayers
- Additional design and safety options for interior glazing
PrivacyPrivacy 1–4 of 5
ColourThrough the interlayer
SafetySafety glazing
Best forDoors, office fronts, high-use glazing
Colour & Print Glass
Custom colour, pattern, artwork and imagery can be applied to glass for wall cladding, feature walls and interior partitions.
Printed Glass
Printed glass carries imagery, graphics and pattern on the glass itself, from full-coverage colour to partial designs that leave areas clear for light and views.
- Custom artwork and repeat patterns
- Partial or full coverage for privacy
PrivacyPrivacy 1–5 of 5
ColourFull colour
SafetyBase glass, or laminated interlayer
Best forFeature walls, privacy bands, wayfinding
Back-Painted Glass
Back-painted glass delivers consistent, opaque colour with a clean, highly finished appearance, well suited to cladding, reception areas, partitions, casework and feature installations where colour coordination and easy maintenance matter.
- Solid-colour decorative glass
- Low-iron glass available for improved colour accuracy
PrivacyPrivacy 5 of 5
ColourCustom colour matching
SafetySet by the base glass
Best forCladding, reception, casework, feature walls
Match glass to your palette.
Send a colour reference, paint code or artwork and we’ll return physical samples on glass, so the decision is made on the real material.
Good to know: low-ironStandard glass has a slight green cast. Where colour has to match the swatch, ask for low-iron glass.
When two options look alike.
The three decisions that come up most often, and how to make them.
Etched or patterned?
Both: let light through and screen the view.
The difference: etching is a design on the surface that you control; patterned glass has its texture built into the glass.
Etched
- You want a specific design: a graduated band, a pattern, a logo
- Privacy needs to sit at a set height, with clear areas elsewhere
- You want depth: deep etching adds dimension where glass thickness allows
Patterned
- You want an even texture across the whole panel
- Light diffusion matters more than a custom design
- It’s for doors, partitions, office fronts and screens
Back-painted or printed?
Both: put colour on glass.
The difference: back-painted is one solid, consistent colour; printed carries images, multiple colours and partial coverage.
Back-painted
- You need one colour matched to the project palette
- The glass is cladding, casework, reception or a feature wall
- Easy maintenance and a highly finished look matter
Printed
- The wall carries imagery, brand graphics or wayfinding
- You want some areas clear and others covered
- You need custom artwork or a repeat pattern at architectural scale
Etched or laminated privacy?
Both: screen the view while keeping the room bright.
The difference: etching works on the surface; laminated glass gets its privacy from an interlayer and adds safety.
Etched
- Privacy is the main requirement
- You want pattern or a design, not a uniform screen
- Safety glazing is handled by the base glass [confirm]
Laminated privacy
- The glazing is high-use: doors, office fronts, busy corridors
- Safety matters: laminated glass holds together if broken
- You may also want colour, print or acoustic performance in the interlayer
What to send us, and what you'll get back.
01
What to send us
- Drawings, elevations or photos of the space
- How private each area needs to be (use the effects above)
- Colours, artwork or brand files
- Approximate sizes and quantities
- Your timeline
02
What you get back
- The recommended glass for each area
- Physical samples of colour, print and finish
- Drawings and pricing [confirm]
- Lead times [confirm]
Glass in use.
[Project name]
Workplace · [City]
Etched Laminated
[Project name]
Healthcare · [City]
Printed
[Project name]
Education · [City]
Back-painted
Interior decorative & writable glass
Architectural glass walls, ready to specify.
Six glass types for walls, partitions and feature surfaces — each with CSI specs, Revit and CAD files, and Basis of Design language you can drop straight into the project manual.
Fabricated to order in Woodbridge, Ontario · GSA & OMNIA Partners contracts · 2020 & Configura libraries
Printed glass · [Project name, City]
Specification toolkit
Everything for all six glass types · updated [Month YYYY]
01 · Choose by effect
How much should the room reveal?
Pick a glass to see what people on the other side will see, how much light gets through, and where it works best.
What people see
Shapes and movement, but not faces or screens.
- Privacy
- 2–3 of 5
- Daylight
- High — diffused
- Writable
- No
- Best for
- Doors, office fronts, screens
What people see
Views through the clear areas; the etched pattern screens the rest.
- Privacy
- 2–4 of 5
- Daylight
- High
- Writable
- No
- Best for
- Meeting rooms, privacy bands
What people see
Color and pattern held inside the glass; privacy depends on the interlayer.
- Privacy
- 1–4 of 5
- Daylight
- Varies by interlayer
- Writable
- No
- Best for
- High-use glazing, clinical spaces
What people see
Your image — full coverage, or partial so light and views come through.
- Privacy
- 1–5 of 5
- Daylight
- Varies by coverage
- Writable
- No
- Best for
- Feature walls, wayfinding, branding
What people see
Nothing behind it — a solid wall of deep, glossy color.
- Privacy
- 5 of 5
- Daylight
- None (opaque)
- Writable
- No
- Best for
- Cladding, reception, casework
What people see
A solid color wall that people can write and draw on.
- Privacy
- 5 of 5
- Daylight
- None (opaque)
- Writable
- Yes — dry-erase
- Best for
- Classrooms, huddle rooms, labs
02 · Glass types
Six ways to build a glass wall.
Every type comes tempered or laminated, cut to size and color-matched, with the same spec documents.
Privacy & texture — light through, views softened
Patterned Glass
Fluted, reeded or embossed glass that diffuses light and blurs views without films or graphics.
- Privacy
- 2–3 of 5
- Thickness
- [X–X mm]
- Max panel
- [X × X in]
- Safety
- Tempered · [ANSI Z97.1]
- Use
- Doors, office fronts, screens
Etched Glass
Permanent etched pattern, from a soft frosted band to deep dimensional artwork, set to the privacy each room needs.
- Privacy
- 2–4 of 5
- Finishes
- Surface etch · deep etch [min. X mm]
- Max panel
- [X × X in]
- Safety
- Tempered · [ANSI Z97.1]
- Use
- Meeting rooms, privacy bands
Laminated Glass
Glass bonded around an interlayer — clear, colored, printed, privacy or acoustic — for safety and design in one panel.
- Privacy
- 1–4 of 5 (by interlayer)
- Make-up
- [X + X mm, X interlayer]
- Acoustic
- [STC XX option]
- Safety
- Safety glazing · [CPSC 16 CFR 1201]
- Use
- Doors, high-use glazing, clinical
Color, print & writable — opaque, graphic, working surfaces
Printed Glass
Imagery, wood and stone textures, gradients or branding printed with EganINK — full coverage or partial for views and light.
- Privacy
- 1–5 of 5 (by coverage)
- Full color · [resolution / white ink]
- Max panel
- [X × X in]
- Safety
- Tempered or laminated
- Use
- Feature walls, wayfinding, brand
Back-Painted Glass
Solid, opaque color with a deep high-gloss finish — matched to any palette and easy to keep clean.
- Privacy
- 5 of 5 (opaque)
- Color
- [XX] standard · custom match
- Glass
- Low-iron for true color
- Safety
- Tempered · [ANSI Z97.1]
- Use
- Cladding, reception, casework
Only from Egan
Writable Glass
Back-painted glass that is also a dry-erase surface — no ghosting or staining — so a feature wall becomes a working wall.
- Privacy
- 5 of 5 (opaque)
- Writing
- Dry-erase · [magnetic option]
- Max panel
- [Full height, X × X in]
- Warranty
- [X-year writing surface]
- Use
- Classrooms, huddle rooms, labs
03 · Side by side
Compare all six at a glance.
| Glass | Look | Privacy | Daylight | Writable | Safety glazing | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patterned | Textured, fluted | 2–3 | High | No | Tempered | Doors, office fronts |
| Etched | Frosted, artwork | 2–4 | High–medium | No | Tempered | Meeting rooms |
| Laminated | Interlayer color / pattern | 1–4 | Varies | No | Yes, laminated | High-use glazing |
| Printed | Full-color image | 1–5 | Varies | No | Tempered or laminated | Feature walls, wayfinding |
| Back-painted | Solid gloss color | 5 | None | No | Tempered | Cladding, casework |
| Writable | Solid color, dry-erase | 5 | None | Yes | Tempered | Classrooms, huddle rooms |
Privacy on a 1–5 scale (1 = fully clear, 5 = opaque). Confirm standards per project with your Egan spec rep.
04 · Specify
Write Egan in as Basis of Design.
Copy-ready spec language for each glass type, formatted the way project manuals are written. Our spec team will tailor it to your drawings and finish schedule.
- CSI 3-part specification, editable DOCX
- Typical sections: glass-to-wall, panel-to-panel, base and head
- Finish schedule entries and color references
- Review of your spec section within [2] business days
Basis of Design · Back-Painted GlassCopy
2.1 MANUFACTURERS
A. Basis of Design: Egan Visual Inc., Woodbridge, ON — Back-Painted Glass Wall Panels.
2.2 MATERIALS
A. Glass: [6 mm] low-iron float glass, fully tempered, complying with [ANSI Z97.1 / CPSC 16 CFR 1201].
B. Finish: Back-painted, color [EGAN-XXXX] or custom match to [ ].
C. Edges: [Flat polished, arrised].
2.3 MOUNTING
A. [Concealed clip / structural adhesive / standoff] per Egan typical detail [GW-01].
05 · Samples & custom
See it, touch it, write on it.
Order glass samples showing edge detail, clarity and color, with mounting hardware and spec references in the box. Ships in [X] business days.
- Color matchingAny paint system or brand color
- Custom sizesCut to your elevations
- Edgework & cut-outsOutlets, notches, radius corners
- Egan Design LabArtwork for print and etch
From spec to install
- SpecifyDownload specs or ask for a spec review.
- SampleApprove color, edge and finish.
- Shop drawingsElevations and details for sign-off.
- FabricateMade to order, typically [X–X] weeks.
- InstallThrough your Egan dealer or installer.
06 · Projects
Specified by
Healthcare · [City]
[Project name]
[Architect / designer] specified laminated privacy glass for [N] exam rooms.
Higher education · [City]
[Project name]
[Architect / designer] used writable glass across [N] active-learning classrooms.
Workplace · [City]
[Project name]
[Architect / designer] combined printed and back-painted glass for the reception.
07 · FAQ
Questions architects ask us
Which CSI section does Egan glass fall under?
[Answer with section numbers for each glass type.]
What thicknesses and maximum sizes are available?
[Thickness range and max panel size by type.]
Which safety glazing standards does it meet?
[Confirm: ANSI Z97.1, CPSC 16 CFR 1201, CAN/CGSB-12.1.]
How are panels mounted?
[Mounting systems, with links to CAD details.]
Can you match a specific paint color?
[Pantone, RAL, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams — and turnaround.]
Is Egan on GSA or cooperative contracts?
Yes — GSA and OMNIA Partners. [Link to Group Purchasing Contracts.]
Specifying glass for a project?
Our specification team will review your drawings, prepare Basis of Design language and send samples within [X] days.
Send us your
glass elevation.
Drawings, a sketch or a photo is enough to start. Tell us how private each area needs to be and what the glass should carry, and we’ll come back with glass types and samples.