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Can we save 1 billion avian lives per year?

Bird-Friendly Glass Lab

Glass windows in all types of buildings, in a range of locations – cities, suburbs, and rural areas – are a fatal hazard for birds. Scientists currently estimate that 100 million to 1 billion birds are killed by collisions with glass each year in the United States alone. On a global scale, billions of birds are killed by collisions annually. This is a global wildlife crisis, impacting bird populations wherever glass is used, and its scope continues to increase. Much remains unknown about the science underlying this threat to birds. The limited knowledge about the underlying science of this phenomenon is a major impediment to the development of effective design solutions.

Project

In collaboration with the New Jersey Audubon Society, the United States Green Building Council, and ornithologist Dr. Christine Sheppard, Ennead Lab is developing designs for a laboratory testing apparatus in which to gauge the response of live birds in flight to a variety of glass types.

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Building upon previous research and lessons learned from Dr. Sheppard’s earlier (and now obsolete) testing tunnel, the team is developing this “next generation” standardized testing apparatus and an associated testing protocol, similar to ASTM material tests for building products.

The design and construction of this flight tunnel will make possible desperately needed research, broadening the scientific knowledge underlying this critical environmental issue and leading to the development of new glass types and architectural design strategies to prevent bird collisions with buildings.

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Guy Maxwell and Vassar College Bridge Building featured on Wired

November 1, 2016

Check out Sam Lubell’s article on bird-friendly glass in Wired Magazine. The article features Ennead partner Guy Maxwell and the recently-completed Ennead-designed Bridge for Laboratory Sciences at Vassar College.

Bird-Friendly Glass Research Featured on National Geographic

November 4, 2015

Check out this National Geographic video featuring Dr. Christine Shepherd, one of Ennead Lab’s key partners for the Bird- Friendly Glass Lab project.

Ennead Co-develops LEED Pilot Credit 55

November 4, 2015

In order to provide a tool for designers to help reduce bird injury and mortality due to collisions with buildings, Ennead helped lead the effort to develop LEED Pilot Credit 55. To date, this Credit has become the most popular Pilot Credit with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). As part of similar, on-going collaborations, Ennead currently co-chairs ASTM Committee WK47853 Collaboration New Standard – Bird Collision Deterrence Material Threat Factor, in an effort to help provide the glazing industry with a test methodology for third party validation.

Team

Ennead

Partners

  • Dr. Christine Sheppard
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