Vitro to Supply Bird-Friendly Glass for Second Project at the National Aviary

Bird-friendly glass is a growing trend throughout the U.S., as the technology advances and begins making its way into codes. For Vitro Architectural Glass, however, bird-friendly glass is more than just a trend; it’s about values. That’s why, for the second time, the company has donated bird-friendly glass to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.

“Sustainability is a core value at Vitro and the partnership with the National Aviary brought our products into alignment with our values and a need in the community,” says Robert Struble, manager of corporate brand and strategy for Vitro. “Following the successful renovation of their Tropical Rain Forrest, we’ve maintained a relationship with the Aviary and have sponsored their educational programs for several years. We appreciate their mission and work.”

Vitro will sponsor the installation of bird-friendly glass on the Aviary’s new Garden Room, which will be used as a wedding, corporate and classroom space. Approximately 5,000 square feet of Solarban 72 Acuity solar control, low-E and low-iron glass by Vitro will be installed in insulating glass units (IGUs) on all four sides of the structure.

Approximately 5,000 square feet of Solarban 72 Acuity solar control, low-E and low-iron glass by Vitro will be installed in insulating glass units (IGUs) on all four sides of the structure. Photo: PERFIDO WEISKOPF WAGSTAFF + GOETTEL

The IGUs will be fabricated with Walker Glass’ AviProtek E acid-etched bird-safe glass (Pattern 213) on the first (outdoor-facing) surface. The pattern was designed to satisfy the American Bird Conservancy’s “2 by 4” rule, which states that to be bird-friendly, any pattern on a glass surface must uniformly cover the entire window and consist of lines, dots or other geometric figures separated by no more than 2 inches if oriented in horizontal rows, or by 4 inches if oriented in vertical columns. The project will also feature a large moving wall. Completion is expected in the fall of 2020.

While energy efficiency is a major focus for Vitro, Struble says the company also supports the efforts of the National Fenestration Rating Council in the bird-friendly arena.

“At the 2019 AIA Conference on Architecture, we donated booth space and advocated for the research work of the American Bird Conservancy. At the same conference, we also promoted a presentation by Dr. Daniel Klem, a noted ornithologist and researcher who consults with Walker on bird-safe glass.”

Walker Glass also works to educate the architectural community on bird-friendly glass solutions.

“Both Walker and Vitro employ architectural managers who every day are educating the architectural community on the need for bird-safe glass as an integral component of their designs, as well as to the most recent municipal requirements where the building project is to be located,” says Danik Dancause, marketing operations manager for Walker.

Charles Alexander, Walker’s vice president of sales and marketing, estimates that bird-friendly market growth will be driven chiefly by legislation requiring the use of bird-safe glass being adopted by cities and municipalities across North America.

“This trend is already well underway, with legislation in place in San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago and, most recently, New York, as well as in numerous cities in Canada including Toronto and Markham, Ontario,” he says.

“ASTM’s cousin to the north, the Canadian Standards Association has recently published a bird-friendly standard (A 460) that outlines prescriptive requirements to architects on how to build bird-safe buildings,” adds Dancause. “It is this standard that will likely be the driving force behind the adoption and advancement of bird safe building requirements throughout North America. Amongst other things, this standard dictates the size and positioning of bird-safe markers on glazing that will protect birds from colliding into glass structures, and it is this standard that will challenge glass manufacturers to meet these standards – today and in the future.”

While having bird-friendly glass was important for the project, Struble also tells USGNN™ that energy efficiency was just as vital.

“The mission of the National Aviary is to educate and protect avian population, so bird glass that reduces energy consumption and the related CO2 emissions was a must,” he says.

“In choosing glass for the Garden Room, it was critical that our selection be bird-friendly,” adds Cheryl Tracy, executive director of the National Aviary. “We also wanted glass with an elegant, understated pattern that will allow our guests to appreciate the beautiful outdoor amenities from the new event space year-round. We have found that perfect balance thanks to the experts at Vitro Architectural Glass.”

The Garden Room is the second National Aviary project Vitro Glass has sponsored in the past two years. In 2018, the glass dome covering the facility’s Tropical Rainforest habitat was completely replaced with 19,600-square-feet of Starphire Ultra-Clear glass with bird-friendly acid-etched glass by Walker Glass. Vitro Glass provided materials, as well as technical and financial support for the $1.2 million project.