Guardian Glass Features New Bird-Friendly Product at AIA

Architects and designers seeking high performance, aesthetically pleasing glass products, while honoring a commitment to preserving the planet, will find the right solutions at the Guardian Glass booth at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention in Las Vegas June 6-8.

Six hundred million birds die every year as a result of striking buildings. As architects join government entities, industry groups and environmental organizations in seeking solutions to reducing bird collisions with glass, Guardian Glass will feature its soon-to-be-available Guardian Bird1st™ UV coated glass. 

Bird1st UV coated glass can be combined with Guardian SunGuard® coated glass products to bring value to new construction or retrofits by delivering desired performance and a neutral appearance with bird safety in mind. The product works with laminated glass to break up the reflectivity, making the UV vertical stripes visible to birds, but very subtle to the human eye.

Bird1st UV coated glass is the latest option in bird-friendly glass solutions from Guardian Glass, joining Guardian SunGuard® coated glass products combined with frit patterns that also help mitigate bird collisions. All products have been tested effective by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

As a result of Guardian Glass’ work with the ABC and strong partnership with the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA), Guardian spearheaded and facilitated conversations between the ABC and IGMA to create a fundraising campaign to pay for the construction of a second ABC bird tunnel test site.

The result of those efforts is the IGMA Bird Deterrent Glass Research Fund, which provides the fenestration industry a means for contributing funds to the second test tunnel project and it’s operation. The test tunnel is used to determine the efficacy of glass products in deterring bird strikes.

“Guardian Glass’ bird-friendly products are the result of work to understand and test coated glass solutions for bird-glass collisions over the past years,” explains Sarah Wansack, marketing manager, Guardian Glass United States and Canada. “A natural outgrowth of this dedication is our support of the IGMA Bird Deterrent Glass Research Fund to help the glass industry more efficiently develop and deliver certified bird-friendly glass products. We encourage our partners in the architectural community to join us in supporting this important effort.”

Also in Booth #6907 at AIA:

• A unique application of Guardian Vacuum IG™ units will compliment Guardian’s bird-friendly products. Guardian Vacuum IG units can improve center of glass performance from R1 for single-pane glass to R-12. Each unit utilizes two tempered glass panes separated by nearly invisible microspacers, a vacuum (no air) between the panes, and Guardian SunGuard® Low-E coatings, to deliver a step change for insulating performance. The Guardian Vacuum IG display, a refrigeration unit, will show attendees the impressive thermal performance that can be achieved in exterior glass installations. Guardian Vacuum IG units offer an energy-saving option for architects seeking industry-leading performance, pursuing LEED® certification or designing a restoration project.
• Guardian Glass will also feature its full roster of high performance SunGuard® coated glass products and services, and InGlass® interior coated glass products.
• Also during the conference, Jacob Kasbrick, Guardian Glass regional architectural manager – west, will present the continuing education course Making Glass Come to Life – The Principles of Glass Selection Thursday, June 6, 2-3 p.m. in CE Theater B, Booth 8545.
• Guardian Glass will again host its popular Happy Hour Thursday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. in Booth #6907.

AIA attendees can visit Guardian Glass Booth #6907 for more information, or guardianglass.com.

Cutline: Innovations in glass technology are challenging the notion that form must always follow function. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration is such an example. Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects used high performance, low-E Guardian SunGuard® SNX 62/27 coating on Guardian low-iron glass and gray glass to reflect the best in hospitality design while offering state-of-the art classrooms. Photo: Eric Jamison/Studio J Inc