To provide the safest and most efficient habitat for the Tropical Rainforest’s birds, Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) provided 19,600 square-feet of Starphire Ultra-Clear^® glass featuring AviProtek^® bird-friendly Velour acid-etched finish by Walker Glass to deliver a variety of performance features. In this video, Architectural Manager Emily Dritz describes the myriad of unique traits that contribute to efficient glass for birds and visitors alike, as well as the key players in the installation process.

The National Aviary’s Tropical Rainforest exhibit has long been the home of countless tropical birds. Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) provided 19,600 square-feet of Starphire Ultra-Clear^® glass featuring AviProtek^® bird-friendly Velour acid-etched finish by Walker Glass in an effort to provide these birds an even safer home for years to come. In this video, National Aviary Director of Buildings and Grounds Keith Sines explains the importance of ensuring the safety of birds and staff, challenges in preparation of the installation, and why bird-friendly glass is so important.

For over half a century, the Tropical Rainforest exhibit has remained a Pittsburgh treasure and its silhouette has become just as famous as the birds. When Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) provided 19,600 square-feet of Starphire Ultra-Clear^® glass featuring AviProtek^® bird-friendly Velour acid-etched finish by Walker Glass, it wished to maintain the building that visitors have come to cherish. In this video, Executive Director of the National Aviary Cheryl Tracy talks about the significance of the Tropical Rainforest’s transformation and why bird-friendly glass is necessary.

Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) is dedicated to preserving the natural world, and is proud to provide 19,600 square-feet of Starphire Ultra-Clear^® glass, featuring AviProtek^® bird-friendly Velour acid-etched finish by Walker Glass, to the Tropical Rainforest exhibit at the National Aviary. In this video, Renovation Services Inc. CEO and Owner Melissa Wiegand describes her past experience with observatories, installation challenges and the benefits of bird-friendly glass.

The Tropical Rainforest at the National Aviary is an icon to Pittsburgh residents and bird enthusiasts alike. That’s why Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) is proud to preserve the Aviary’s identity as it supplies 19,600 square-feet of Starphire Ultra-Clear^® glass, featuring AviProtek^® bird-friendly Velour acid-etched finish by Walker Glass. In this video, WTW Principal, Aviary Board of Trustees Member and Volunteer Tom Wiley discusses the history of the exhibit, its cultural significance and the positive attributes that bird-friendly glass provides.

A Bird’s-Eye View of a Unique Glass Installation

For more than 65 years, the National Aviary in Pittsburgh has been dedicated to inspiring respect for nature through an appreciation of birds. This ethos is seen in its education programming, preservation of natural habitats to save endangered species and groundbreaking avian research.

How the Partnership Supports Local Pittsburgh Students

As part of its sponsorship of the Tropical Rainforest renovation, Vitro Glass will help fund the National Aviary’s popular School Field Trips education program. This program helps students to understand important conservation and environmental concepts through engaging studies of birds from across the globe.

Why the Tropical Rainforest Needed New Wings

The Victoria Crowned Pigeons, Malayan Great Argus pheasant, beloved macaws and dozens of other exotic birds that inhabit the National Aviary’s Tropical Rainforest Exhibit have captivated families for generations.

Major Milestones of the National Aviary Tropical Rainforest Exhibit Restoration

With help from Vitro Architectural Glass, Pittsburgh’s National Aviary will soon become a living demonstration of the vital role that glass can play in keeping birds safe from buildings and predators in dense urban environments.