Chicago Construction News staff writer
Chicago could soon require bird-friendly design features in new buildings and major renovation projects under an ordinance expected to be debated at the Sept. 17 or Sept. 23 City Council meeting.
The proposed ordinance would establish mandatory standards aimed at reducing the risk of birds striking glass and other building surfaces.
The measure, introduced by Ald. Maria Hadden and co-sponsored by other alderpersons, was moved from the City Council’s Rules Committee to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards in July.
New requirements would apply to new construction and major renovations, with exemptions for some smaller residential buildings and would mean:
- Single-family homes and two- and three-flat buildings would not be required to meet the bird-friendly design standards, although the ordinance encourages those property owners to use them.
- Larger residential projects and commercial buildings would be subject to the requirements.
- For covered projects, the ordinance would require building designs to limit the amount of transparent or reflective glass used on exterior walls.
- Where glass creates a known collision hazard, projects would have to use glass with visual patterns or other treatments that make the surface more visible to birds.
The proposal would also address building lighting, as exterior lighting would be limited based on its amount, location and operating hours. Interior lighting that is visible from outside would also have to be reduced through measures such as timers, dimmers, blinds and motion controls.
Building design would also have to take landscaping into account. The ordinance would seek to avoid designs in which trees and other plantings are reflected in glass or are visible through transparent glass, creating the appearance of a continuation of the landscape.
Existing buildings would not have to make changes simply because the ordinance takes effect. Requirements would apply when an existing building undergoes a major renovation covered by the ordinance.
Bird Friendly Chicago, which supports the ordinance, says incorporating bird-friendly features during the initial design of a project can keep costs relatively low.
The organization cites testimony from Skyline, a Chicago company that manufactures bird-friendly glass, that incorporating bird-friendly design at the beginning of a project can increase costs by less than 1% of the total project cost.
Bird Friendly Chicago also says reducing the amount of glass used on a building can lower initial construction, replacement and maintenance costs.
While some treated or specially patterned glass can carry a higher upfront cost, the organization says some products can provide additional energy benefits by reducing heat gain during the summer and heat loss during the winter.
The organization also says changes to exterior and interior lighting can be incorporated into broader building sustainability measures and may reduce energy use.
By contrast, retrofitting an existing building after bird collisions become a problem can be more expensive and may require changes to the building’s original design, according to Bird Friendly Chicago.
For developers, architects, general contractors and façade and glazing contractors, the proposed ordinance could make bird-friendly glass, façade design and lighting controls part of the planning process for covered Chicago projects.
