A Commitment to Bird Conservation at McCormick Place
McCormick Place, the largest convention center in the United States, strives to be a good neighbor and environmental steward. Since 2023, McCormick Place has taken significant steps toward protecting birds by minimizing collisions. McCormick Place believes it is essential to prioritize the well-being of wildlife and to take proactive steps to protect their habitats.
The largest investment has been installation of a bird-safe window film on the two football fields’ worth of windows at Lakeside Center. The installation, completed in August 2024, mitigates collisions by helping birds more easily see Lakeside Center’s windows. Bird collisions at the 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.
“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.”
An event on the McCormick Place Lakeside Center Terrace after the completion of the bird-safe window film installation. The inset photo shows a close-up of the Lakeside Center windows after film installation.
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. McCormick Place and its owner, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (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 Lights Out Chicago
McCormick Place has proudly joined the owners and operators of other large Chicago buildings in switching off or dimming lights as part of the Lights Out campaign. The Lights Out program is coordinated by the Chicago Audubon Society, the National Audubon Society, the Building Owners and Managers Association, and the City of Chicago.
Chicago’s buildings have set an example for the rest of the country by participating in the Lights Out initiative, which has saved the lives of thousands of birds each year. As a result, building owners like McCormick Place have reaped tangible benefits, such as lower energy and maintenance expenses, while helping migratory birds.
As of October 2023, a stricter Lights Out policy was enforced on campus, with all lights on the east side of Lakeside Center level 3 turned off at night. McCormick Place continues to proactively work with the Field Museum, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, and other organizations from our city to reduce bird collisions and reduce our overall environmental impact.
