Market Sectors / Institutional

Who says learning can't be fun?

In an industry devoted to education and self-discovery, Birdair’s portfolio of institutional projects offers visitors the perfect opportunity to explore their inquisitive sides.

Among the notable buildings Birdair has helped produce in this architectural market are the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, a graceful addition to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., the main atrium of the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, and the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Ariz.

The winged roofing design of the Strong Museum addition consists of Birdair’s PTFE fabric membrane, which allows maximum daylight for more than 800 tropical and native butterflies that fly freely through the building. The arching atrium of the Fort Lauderdale museum is linked so closely to the venue that it serves as its official logo. The Mesa Arts Center, which opened in the spring of 2005, also features Birdair’s unmistakable architectural style, with a series of large PTFE canopies that shade patrons as they walk towards the center’s main entrance.

Each structure offers an abundance of natural daylight, an important feature in institutional buildings such as schools, hospitals and churches. Studies have shown that natural daylight harvesting for interior space improves emotional and mental health, which can enhance healing and learning among occupants.