The industry-standard solution for massive openings that demand serious sound control. Supplied to Hollywood’s biggest studios and production facilities worldwide.
Large acoustical sliding doors go by many names in the industry — “Elephant Doors,” “Stage Doors,” “Soundstage Doors” — but they all mean the same thing: a door big enough to move anything, quiet enough to record everything. When a swinging hinged door isn’t practical due to size but sound isolation is non-negotiable, an elephant door is the answer.
Specialty Doors & Hardware has been supplying these systems to major studios, industrial facilities, universities, and performing arts venues around the world for decades. We’re based in Southern California — the film capital of the world — and it’s no coincidence that every major Hollywood studio has called on us.
Built for Openings No Standard Door Can Handle
Typical elephant door installations run around 18′ × 20′, but our scope doesn’t stop there. We regularly complete systems at 30–40 feet high, and we’ve built to virtually any width required. If anything, the larger the opening, the better for us.
Panels are shipped in 4–5 foot widths for easier handling and on-site installation, and the operator and door panels are engineered as a fully integrated system — not bolted-together components from different manufacturers.
Performance You Can Measure
53 STC Sound Transmission Class Achieved using 3.5″ steel panels with full-perimeter double acoustical seals. Our on-site test results have consistently met or exceeded lab ratings.
50 NIC On-Site — Equivalent to an 8″ Brick Wall In a documented field test conducted June 20, 2013, our 18′ × 20′ electrically operated installation was blasted with concert-level “pink noise.” The studio-side Noise Isolation Coefficient came back at 50. The warehouse side, affected by nearby traffic, still hit 47 NIC. Acoustical data is available upon request for any project.
Outperforms Concrete — With Manual Override The old standard was doors made of 8″ of concrete and 4″ of instaquilt. They were so heavy that even a forklift couldn’t move them in an emergency. Our systems test better acoustically and can be manually operated with minimal effort if power is ever lost.
System Features
Concealed Electric Operator The vast majority of our elephant door installations are electrically operated due to their size. A roller chain concealed inside the track drives the panels — no exposed cable or chain anywhere on the finished installation.
Double Acoustical Seals, Full Perimeter Every movable element is sealed completely around its perimeter with double acoustical seals — the core reason our field results consistently beat the lab.
Custom Controls & Safety Hardware Constant pressure key switches, relays, safety edges, and any other control configuration your facility requires. We provide the complete control package, not just the door.
Curved & Radius Hardware We also design and supply curved or radius track hardware for non-linear openings, in both manual and electric configurations.
Acoustical Swinging Doors Available We frequently pair elephant doors with acoustical swinging man-doors — complete with frames, hinges, and gaskets — to fully close out a sound requirement.
Who Uses Elephant Doors
Our systems have been installed at:
- Disney Studios
- Warner Brothers
- Paramount Studios
- Culver Studios
- Manhattan Studios
- Skywalker Ranch
- Universal Studios
- Boeing Aircraft
- Northrop
- Nokia Theatre
- Cal State University
- Kennedy King University
- Schools and hospitals worldwide
We’ve come to be known as the company that can do anything that slides — and elephant doors are where that reputation was built.
Ready to get started? Submit a quote request or call us directly at 424-282-0525. We respond within one business day, and no opening is too large.