(Attendees gather on the McCormick Place Lakeside Center Terrace after the installation of bird-safe window film on the building’s windows, completed in August 2024. The film, designed to reduce bird collisions, features white dots visible in the inset photo (top right) but nearly invisible from a distance. Photo courtesy of McCormick Place.)
US Fish & Wildlife Director visits McCormick Place to learn about positive effects of bird-safe window film at Lakeside Center
submitted by Jonathon Sadowski, on behalf of McCormick Place
CHICAGO – Bird collisions at McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center have fallen by more than 95% since the summer 2024 installation of bird-safe film on the building’s two football fields’ worth of windows, according to data recorded during the fall migration period.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director Martha Williams visited Lakeside Center on January 8 to learn about the success seen in reducing collisions with the window film. The film, manufactured by Feather Friendly, creates a dotted pattern on the windows, which helps birds more easily see the surface and avoid collision.
“McCormick Place Lakeside Center deserves hearty appreciation and recognition for the steps they have taken to drastically reduce bird collisions at their facility,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service applauds the leadership displayed by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority to make their buildings less dangerous for migratory birds. Their efforts will encourage others across the nation to take steps to make glass and lighting safer for migratory birds.”
“MPEA is committed to being a good neighbor and environmental steward, and we are very pleased with the positive impact the bird-safe window film has demonstrated so far,” said Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of McCormick Place. “Our gratitude goes out to the experts who have supported MPEA through this process. We hope our collaboration serves as an example for other organizations and owners of large buildings across the country who want to reduce their environmental impact.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds Brian W. Smith said, “The data from the Field Museum after this fall’s bird migration illustrate that any building or home can be made safer for birds. We commend the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority for taking these steps at McCormick Place Lakeside Center. With upfront planning or even after the fact, any building can be bird safe.”
MPEA approved the $1.2 million film installation in spring 2024 to increase protections for local and migratory birds that pass by Lakeside Center. This investment was made after MPEA leadership explored solutions with numerous wildlife experts and advocates, including those at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Field Museum, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, and Never Collide.
“These accomplishments would not have been possible without the support of our partners in the Illinois State Legislature, the Office of Governor JB Pritzker, the Office of Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service” Clark continued. “We are grateful for their shared expertise and commitment to creating a safer environment for migratory birds.”
“Field Museum researchers are very pleased to see the new bird-safe window film have such a measurably positive effect on bird collisions at Lakeside Center,” said Dr. Julian Siggers, Field Museum President & CEO. “MPEA’s commitment to improving protections for migratory birds is commendable, and their success in such a critical location can provide an effective model for buildings regardless of their age or size.”
The window film was not the only recent bird safety improvement at McCormick Place. In October 2023, the convention center implemented multiple new bird-safe policies, including closing drapes and blinds overnight where possible and turning off nonessential exterior lights. MPEA has also participated in the Lights Out Chicago program for more than 20 years to shut off interior lights when the building is unoccupied. Together, these measures have saved thousands of birds’ lives.
About Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA)
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority owns McCormick Place, the largest exhibition and meeting facility in North America, the Wintrust Arena as well as the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the Marriot Marquis Chicago Hotels. Together, the North, South, and West Buildings and Lakeside Center offer 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space. Located along Chicago’s lakefront, McCormick Place features 173 meeting rooms, the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater, and one of the largest ballrooms in the world.
About McCormick Place
McCormick Place is the premier convention facility in North America. Located just minutes from downtown Chicago, approximately 3 million visitors each year attend events at McCormick Place. Home to some of the largest and most attended conventions, meetings, and tradeshows in the world, McCormick Place was designed as one of the first purpose-built convention centers in the United States and is the largest and most flexible convention center in North America. The McCormick Place campus is a convention center campus comprised of the North Building, South Building, East Building “Lakeside Center,” West Building, and the 10,000 seat Wintrust Arena. For more information, please visit: www.mccormickplace.com.
