Studio Gang co-curates Chicago Architecture Center exhibition on designing for bird migration

The Chicago Architecture Center has announced two new exhibitions exploring the relationship between urban design and ecological systems, set to open on June 11 at its Wacker Drive location. Titled Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem and Chicago’s Living Habitat, the exhibitions examine how cities can better accommodate wildlife, with a particular focus on bird populations.

Flyway City is designed and co-curated by Studio Gang in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Center. The exhibition addresses the impact of urban environments on migratory birds, highlighting collisions with glass buildings as a major cause of mortality. In the United States, such collisions are estimated to result in more than one billion bird deaths annually.

Positioned along the Mississippi Flyway, Chicago is a significant corridor for migratory species traveling between Canada and South America. The city’s extensive use of glass in buildings presents both a challenge and an opportunity for architectural intervention. The exhibition outlines a range of design strategies aimed at reducing bird collisions, from retrofitting existing windows to integrating bird-friendly considerations into new construction and urban policy.

The exhibition features a selection of projects by Studio Gang, including the Aqua Tower and the David Rubenstein Treehouse, alongside models, material samples, illustrations, and interactive displays. Contributions from local organizations and bird advocacy groups provide additional context.

A companion exhibition, Chicago’s Living Habitat, is co-curated with Openlands and introduces visitors to five regional ecosystems, including wetlands, prairies, and woodlands. Together, the exhibitions frame Chicago as a shared habitat shaped by both human and non-human inhabitants. Both exhibitions will remain on view through January 2027.