Migratory birds were flying into the windows and falling, dead or injured, to the foot of the LEED-Platinum FBI building in Chicago. During the spring and fall, birds were crashing into the windows at a rate of at least 10 a day.
That FBI building isn't the only LEED-certified structure to cause problems for migratory birds, however. Some of the more than 33,000 LEED-certified buildings in the U.S. use large amounts of glass to bring in natural light and save on energy—and all that glass can confuse birds.
Can a building that kills birds be a leader in environmental design?
Source: Chicago Tribune
Related Stories
| Apr 5, 2013
Projected cost for Apple's Campus 2 balloons to $5 billion
Campus 2, Apple Inc.'s proposed ring-shaped office facility in Cupertino, Calif., could cost $5 billion to build, according to a report by Bloomberg.
| Mar 23, 2013
Fire resistive curtain wall helps mixed-use residential building meet property line requirements
The majority of fire rated glazing applications occur inside the building in order to allow occupants to exit the building safely or provide an area of refuge during a fire. But what happens when the threat of fire comes from the outside? This was the case for The Kensington, a mixed-use residential building in Boston.
| Mar 20, 2013
Folding glass walls revitalize student center
Single-glazed storefronts in the student center at California’s West Valley College were replaced with aluminum-framed, thermally broken windows from NanaWall in a bronze finish that emulates the look of the original building.
| Mar 14, 2013
PPG appoints Bryan Iams vice president, corporate communications and marketing
PPG Industries announced that Bryan Iams has been named vice president, corporate communications and marketing, effective Oct. 1. Iams will report to J. Rich Alexander, executive vice president.
| Mar 6, 2013
Safti First's two-hour fire rated GPX Framing achieves Level 8 Ballistic Rating
Safti First announced that in addition to meeting ASTM E-119/NFPA 251/UL263 with hose stream for up to 2 hours, the SAFTIfire GPX Framing now has a Level 8 Ballistic Rating per UL 752 Standard for Bullet Resistant Materials.
| Feb 14, 2013
Guardian DiamondGuard installed in the Empire State Building
Guardian Industries DiamondGuard glass was recently installed on the 102nd story of the Empire State Building in New York City as part of an extensive renovation to update this venerable landmark.
| Feb 8, 2013
5 factors to consider when designing a shade system
Designing a shade system is more complex than picking out basic white venetian blinds. Here are five elements to consider when designing an interior shade system.
| Feb 8, 2013
WDMA releases national policy agenda for windows, doors, skylights
Document urges a regulatory stance that will support manufacturing, including favorable building codes and tax policy.
| Jan 31, 2013
LaCantina Doors receives Houzz’s 2013 'Best of Remodeling' Customer Satisfaction Award
LaCantina Doors has been awarded "Best Of Houzz" 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. The innovative folding company was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.
| Oct 15, 2012
Silicones from Dow Corning solve high-altitude technical challenges at the world’s tallest tower
The spectacular Burj Khalifa skyscraper soars to 828m above ground level, holding the record for being the world’s tallest building and also for the highest installation of an aluminum and glass façade. To take on its numerous challenges and technical difficulties, it required proven silicone solutions and full support from Dow Corning.