Dallas, September 27, 2025
News Summary
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas is set for a $3 billion renovation, a significant opportunity for advocates to push for bird-safe design features. With approximately 900 bird deaths recorded at the center, conservationists are urging the city to adopt bird-friendly glass and lighting to mitigate the fatal strikes. Successful examples from other cities highlight the potential benefits of these design choices, making the convention center a focal point for action to protect migratory birds during critical migration periods.
Dallas — The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is undergoing a $3 billion renovation in downtown Dallas, and conservation advocates say the project presents a critical chance to reduce bird collisions at a site already identified as the city’s deadliest hotspot for strikes.
Key developments and immediate concerns
Approximately 900 bird deaths, nearly one-third of the documented collisions, occurred at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, marking it as Dallas’s deadliest hotspot for bird strikes. Since 2021, volunteers from the Texas Conservation Alliance have documented over 3,000 bird collisions with downtown Dallas buildings. Most bird strikes happen at night when birds migrate, as artificial lighting can attract birds towards buildings.
Each spring and fall, billions of migratory birds traverse Texas along the Central Flyway, one of North America’s busiest migration routes. The fall bird migration peaks between September 5 and October 29, highlighting the critical need for immediate action to protect migrating birds.
Design choices under consideration
Advocates are urging the city to incorporate bird-safe measures into the convention center’s design. Advocates are pushing for the city to adopt bird-friendly glass and lighting that enhance visibility for birds and improve energy efficiency. Nontransparent glass exposes birds to deadly collisions because they mistake reflections of the sky or trees for actual open spaces. A memo shared by the city in September addressed bird safety in designing the convention center expansion. Dallas officials are reportedly considering feedback from architecture firm Perkins&Will to incorporate bird-friendly features into the convention center design, though city officials have yet to confirm if the final design of the convention center will include bird-friendly attributes.
Costs, benefits and examples
Successful examples of bird-friendly building design exist across the country, like New York’s Javits Center, which reduced bird collisions by 90% after implementing bird-safe glass. Despite the slightly higher cost of bird-safe glass, conservationists argue it makes up a small percentage of the overall construction budget and can position Dallas as a leader in this effort.
Smaller local projects have also adopted bird-safe elements: the Traphene Hickman Library in Cedar Hill, Texas, recently built a bird-friendly design with special glass, demonstrating a commitment to protecting avian species.
Why this matters now
The convention center’s renovation presents a concentrated opportunity to implement protective measures at scale. Community involvement and support are crucial to ensure the adoption of bird-friendly designs by the city. The “Lights Out” movement in Texas encourages buildings to turn off non-essential lights during migration seasons to prevent bird fatalities, an approach that could be coordinated with the convention center’s operational plan.
Conservation groups emphasize broader ecological benefits: birds provide natural pest control and pollination services, underscoring the value of protecting avian species as part of urban planning and major construction projects.
Next steps and unresolved items
The city has received recommendations and a September memo addressing bird safety, and officials are reportedly reviewing feedback from Perkins&Will. City officials have yet to confirm if the final design of the convention center will include bird-friendly attributes. Local advocates continue to press for specific measures, including bird-safe glass and lighting protocols timed to migratory periods.
Background
Migration-related collisions are a long-standing issue in urban areas along major flyways. Artificial lighting and reflective building surfaces increase the risk of fatal strikes, especially during nighttime migrations. Volunteer monitoring and reporting efforts, such as those by the Texas Conservation Alliance, have provided data that local officials and designers can use to prioritize mitigation measures.
FAQ
Q: What is being renovated in Dallas?
A: The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is undergoing a $3 billion renovation in downtown Dallas.
Q: How many bird collisions have been documented in downtown Dallas?
A: Since 2021, volunteers from the Texas Conservation Alliance have documented over 3,000 bird collisions with downtown Dallas buildings.
Q: How many bird deaths occurred at the convention center?
A: Approximately 900 bird deaths, nearly one-third of the documented collisions, occurred at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, marking it as Dallas’s deadliest hotspot for bird strikes.
Q: When do most bird strikes happen?
A: Most bird strikes happen at night when birds migrate, as artificial lighting can attract birds towards buildings.
Q: How many birds migrate through Texas?
A: Each spring and fall, billions of migratory birds traverse Texas along the Central Flyway, one of North America’s busiest migration routes.
Q: When does fall migration peak?
A: The fall bird migration peaks between September 5 and October 29, highlighting the critical need for immediate action to protect migrating birds.
Q: Has the city taken any steps toward bird safety in the design?
A: A memo shared by the city in September addressed bird safety in designing the convention center expansion.
Q: Are officials considering design feedback?
A: Dallas officials are reportedly considering feedback from architecture firm Perkins&Will to incorporate bird-friendly features into the convention center design.
Q: Are there successful examples of bird-friendly design?
A: Successful examples of bird-friendly building design exist across the country, like New York’s Javits Center, which reduced bird collisions by 90% after implementing bird-safe glass.
Q: What do advocates recommend?
A: Advocates are pushing for the city to adopt bird-friendly glass and lighting that enhance visibility for birds and improve energy efficiency.
| Feature | Key data |
|---|---|
| Project | The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is undergoing a $3 billion renovation in downtown Dallas. |
| Documented collisions | Since 2021, volunteers from the Texas Conservation Alliance have documented over 3,000 bird collisions with downtown Dallas buildings. |
| Deaths at convention center | Approximately 900 bird deaths, nearly one-third of the documented collisions, occurred at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, marking it as Dallas’s deadliest hotspot for bird strikes. |
| Migration route | Each spring and fall, billions of migratory birds traverse Texas along the Central Flyway, one of North America’s busiest migration routes. |
| Successful example | Successful examples of bird-friendly building design exist across the country, like New York’s Javits Center, which reduced bird collisions by 90% after implementing bird-safe glass. |
| Migration peak | The fall bird migration peaks between September 5 and October 29, highlighting the critical need for immediate action to protect migrating birds. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- NBC DFW: Could Bird-Friendly Design Save Thousands of Birds in Dallas?
- Dallas News: The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Kills Hundreds of Birds—Could New Design Help?
- Dallas Observer: Dallas Convention Center Plans for Funding Shortfalls & Migratory Birds
- Culture Map: Vertiport at the Convention Center
- Express News: Nation Cheerleaders Association Shooting
- Wikipedia: Bird Safety
- Google Search: Bird-Friendly Building Design
- Google Scholar: Bird Collisions
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bird Migration
- Google News: Bird Friendly Buildings
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
