According to several studies and news reports, more than one billion birds die each year in North America after colliding with window structures. It is a serious issue, but understanding of it has been gaining steam over the last several years thanks to greater awareness, education and new glazing products like the AviProtek® line from Walker Glass. Having a product line available that can allow developers and architects the peace of mind that they will not be harming birds has been a great advancement.
The Boulevard Club is an iconic, century old structure in Toronto which needed an expansion. The windows facing Lake Ontario, which offer a breath taking view, needed to be bird friendly in order to reduce the number of strikes. In this case the award winning AviProtek® E, bird friendly low-e coated acid-etched glass was the right choice.
Tough Task Handled Smoothly
With any new product there are learning curves. Plus add in the pressure of a legendary structure and you have a recipe for an adventure. Fortunately the glazier on the job, Vision Aluminum was more than ready. When it came to Vision’s responsibility on the project, they made sure to seek out the most optimal product choice for the mission.
“Originally the glass was to have a bird frit coating on the 1st surface of the sealed unit. Our company turned to Trulite Industries (our glass supplier) for the most feasible product. We came to a conclusion and recommended Walker’s AviProtek® E with acid-etched markers on the outside surface and PPG solar control low-e coating on surface 2 given that its properties are wear, scratch and stain resistant as opposed to the aftermarket coating. Collectively this benefited the club giving it a lower maintenance cost on the glass. We had no complications, the great thing about Walker’s acid etched glass is that there is no aftermarket film applied to any exposed surface that makes it easy to handle and install,” Tromboukis said.
In the end, the installation of the glass went without issue and The Boulevard Club now has a distinctive and stunning addition featuring glass that has many more functions than just allowing light in.
About the Products Used
Walker Textures® AviProtek® E combines the acid-etch visual markers on the number 1 surface with the PPG Industries Solarban® high performance low-e coatings on position 2, creating the ideal bird friendly glazing solution to preserve birds’ lives and energy at the same time! This innovation brings the best of both worlds together and will help architects and building owners achieve their environmental goals and earn LEED credits, while meeting solar performance targets.
Related Stories
Fire-Rated Products | Aug 15, 2017
Walking on glass: Clear floor system offers largest two-hour fire- resistive panels
The system uses the largest tested and listed individual glass panels for two-hour fire-resistive glass floor applications.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Jun 21, 2017
Hurricane resistant, energy-efficient Viracon Glass turns Florida office building into modern business destination
VUE-30 not only transformed the drab 40-year-old Emerald Hills office building into a modern marvel, but enhanced the energy efficiency of the building.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Jun 13, 2017
Fire resistive glass floors make a dramatic statement in Nashville’s historic neighborhood
SAFTI FIRST supplied a single glass unit comprised of non-slip rated Starphire tempered laminated Glass with 1/8” Non-Skid White Dots from Oldcastle insulated to custom SuperLite II-XL fire resistive glazing.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Work in progress—How the office environment drives innovation, SageGlass (sponsored)
SageGlass CEO Dr. Alan McLenaghan reviews how biophilic design and new technologies, such as dynamic glass, create a greater connection between the built and natural environments in the office.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Next-gen materials for the built environment, Blaine Brownell, Transmaterial
Architect and materials guru Blaine Brownell reveals emerging trends and applications that are transforming the technological capacity, environmental performance, and design potential of architecture.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Jun 13, 2017
Hidden risks and costs of using sprinklers as an alternate to 1-2 hour fire resistive glazing
The ASTM E-119 test is the most stringent and most difficult test to pass for all fire rated glazing assemblies.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Apr 14, 2017
Azuria glass from Vitro provides hospital with the desired pop of color
Located in Wilmington, Delaware, Nemours/duPont hospital has undergone a series of expansions since it was founded in the 1940s.
Sponsored | Fire-Rated Products | Mar 22, 2017
Fire resistive glazing systems provide architects, owners and envelope consultants assurance of documented performance
It may look like a regular window, but these advanced fire resistive glazing systems are recognized in the code as transparent walls because of its ability to block smoke, flames and significantly limit the passage of dangerous radiant heat.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Mar 16, 2017
Fire resistive transparent walls transform stairwells and exits to inviting, light-filled spaces
To preserve the building’s open design and to extend natural light further in the building, the architects incorporated fire resistive glazing in the areas that required a 2-hour fire rating, particularly in the stairwells and exit passageways.
