Birds away
Marcy Marro,
Posted
09/01/2009
The new $20
million Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in downtown
Bettendorf, Iowa, is Iowa's largest hotel complex with more than
24,000 square feet (2,230 m2) of space connected by skywalk to the
IsleCasino Hotel Bettendorf's new hotel tower. Opened in late
January, the convention center features an elevated stage, four
breakout rooms, main event hall, wireless Internet access, business
center and more.
Built along the Mississippi River, the design and location of the
center lends itself to the possibility of birds roosting in the
spaceframe- style of roofing with exposed beams, creating potential
eyesores and health problems for visitors and guests.
The architectural firm, Downing Architects PC, Bettendorf, knew the
convention center was in need of a bird control system that would
be appropriate for keeping birds away from the beams, while
maintaining an aesthetically pleasing look.
Another concern
was that over time, the bird droppings could destroy building
materials-deteriorating wood, masonry and steel; corrode I-beams;
discolor paint and short out electrical equipment. Because research
has shown that birds can carry more than 60 diseases and parasitic
organisms, it was essential to install a system that would keep the
birds from causing harm to humans. "It is smart to specify bird
control in the planning stages because it never gives the bird a
chance to establish a home or roost," said Cory Gellerstedt,
president of Nixalite of America Inc., East Moline, Ill. "It can be
difficult to move birds once they have become established."
Nixalite supplied its K-Net HT netting for the project. The K-Net
features 3/4-inch (19- mm) square mesh and is made of 12-ply high
density polyethylene. For maximum strength and durability, the
netting has a 75-pound (34- kg) knotted breaking strength.
Nixalite, along with Tricon Construction Group, Dubuque, Iowa,
designed a cable rail system that allowed for easy removal to clean
the windows and tend to other maintenance operations. Nixalite
provided 25,000 square feet (2,323 m2) of netting and 4,000 square
feet (372 m2) of netting cable that blends in with the building,
while maintaining a high-quality appearance.
"I decided to use the Nixalite bird system simply because I wanted
to expose the spaceframe structure of the convention center," said
Michael S. Spector, AIA, senior project architect with Downing
Architects.
"I realized,
however, that the lattice-like appearance of the space frame, which
makes it so appealing visually, also provided prime nesting and
roosting opportunities for birds. The space-frame structure extends
past the building's exterior curtainwall to create a canopy over
the State Street plaza. Unaddressed, bird droppings could easily
have rendered the plaza unusable. Nixalite's bird netting was the
solution I needed. It really disappeared once it was installed and
we have had no problems with bird control."
"We had to provide access for window cleaning and electricians. The
system has been removed once and it was reattached. It looks and
works as well as it did the first time," said Mark Horcher, project
manager with Tricon Construction.
The building
features approximately 8,354 square feet (776 m2) of glass
curtainwalls from Walker, Mich.-based Tubelite Inc. on the
convention center and approximately 6,170 square feet (573 m2) of
glass curtainwalls on the connecting skywalk. The exterior columns,
canopies and fascias, as well as the interior stair and bridge, are
clad with approximately 4,530 square feet (421 m2) of Omega-Lite
panels by Laminators Inc., Hatfield, Pa. Additionally, there are
approximately 5,170 square feet (480 m2) of metal fascia panels on
the skywalk by Moon Township, Pa.-based CENTRIA.
Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf,
Iowa
Architect: Downing Architects PC, Bettendorf
Builders: Estes Construction, Davenport, Iowa, and Tricon
Construction Group, Dubuque, Iowa
Glazing contractor: East Moline Glass, East Moline, Ill.
Curtainwall: Tubelite Inc., Walker, Mich.
Metal wall panels: Laminators Inc., Hatfield, Pa.,
Metal fascia panels: CENTRIA, Moon Township, Pa.
Bird control system: Nixalite of America Inc., East Moline
www.tubeliteinc.com; www.laminatorsinc.com; www.centria.com; www.nixalite.com