Number TEN was invited to participate in an Architectural Institute of British Columbia exhibition to promote bird-friendly development in Vancouver. According to a recent study by Avian Conservation and Ecology, up to 42 million birds are killed each year in Canada from collisions with windows. 

The exhibit, which runs until October 30, presents best management practices and guidelines for developers and design professionals to reduce the occurrence of bird strikes with buildings. Number TEN was asked to showcase its design of Environment Canada’s Pacific Wildlife Research Centre in Delta, BC as an example project that successfully integrates bird-friendly design solutions to mitigate collisions with windows.

The Pacific Wildlife Research Centre is one of the first buildings in Canada to use Ornilux glass, a special type of glazing that has a patterned, UV-reflective coating which is highly visible to birds, but nearly transparent to the human eye. The product mitigates bird strikes without impacting the functional or aesthetic benefits of clear glass windows.

The Pacific Wildlife Research Centre project attracted the attention of the Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee and the Department of Bird Safety (http://www.departmentofbirdsafety.org), who invited Number TEN to demonstrate its design at the Exhibition. The exhibit display includes a detailed background on the project, a summary of its eco-friendly design features, and a scale model of the facility — designed by Number TEN’s Victoria office.