Birds and buildings do not get along. A recent rash of collisions with a building in Chicago killed nearly 1,000 birds. To minimize and even eliminate bird collisions, a growing number of U.S. cities have enacted laws that mandate the use of new materials and practices in new and existing buildings.
To further minimize the threat of bird collisions, architects are starting to reimagine city skylines to design buildings that are aesthetically daring and bird-safe, according to The Guardian. Some have begun experimenting with new types of patterned or coated glass that birds can see. Others are rethinking glass towers, experimenting with exteriors that use wood, concrete and steel rods. Blurring the lines between the indoors and outdoors, some architects are creating green roofs and facades, inviting birds to nest within the building.
For example, Chicago’s 82-story Aqua Tower appears to flutter with the wind. Its unusual, undulating facade has made it distinct from the many right-angled glass towers that surround it. In designing it, the architect Jeanne Gang thought not only about the way humans would see it but also how it would look to the birds who fly past. The irregularity of the building’s face allows birds to see it more clearly and avoid fatal collisions.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
