McCormick Place Installs Bird-Saving Window Film

In September 2024, McCormick Place completed the installation of bird-safe window film on its Lakeside Center, a crucial step in preventing future mass bird casualties. This initiative comes in response to a tragic incident in October 2023, when approximately 1,000 birds died in a single night after colliding with the building’s glass facade. The sad event highlighted the urgent need for protective measures at North America’s largest convention center.

The $1.2 million project covered nearly two football fields’ worth of glass with film, addressing a longstanding concern for bird conservationists. McCormick Place’s location along the Mississippi Flyway, a critical migration route, makes it particularly hazardous for birds during spring and fall migrations. The installation of this specialized film is expected to significantly reduce bird collisions by making the glass more visible to avian species.

In addition to the window film, McCormick Place has implemented other bird-friendly practices:

1. Participating in the Lights Out Chicago program
2. Closing drapery in the Lakeside Center at night
3. Turning off unnecessary lights during peak migration periods

These combined efforts aim to prevent a recurrence of last year’s mass casualty event and contribute to the broader goal of protecting migratory birds in urban environments. The project was completed just ahead of the 2024 fall migration season, when birds are particularly vulnerable to collisions with urban structures.

More information is available here.

Image: Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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