Market Sectors / Institutional

Birdair tensile architecture can provide life-changing benefits when incorporated into institutional facility design, including schools, universities, hospitals, libraries and museums.

The high-degree of translucency of a Birdair fabric membrane structure allows natural daylight to flow softly through an interior. Unlike glass curtainwall or skylights – often requiring solar controls like tinting, blinds or curtains to maintain comfort – sunlight that penetrates a Birdair roof is perfectly diffused when filtered through the translucent membrane.

Increasing the amount of daylight incorporated into an interior design lowers the dependency on electric lighting, reducing overall energy costs. Structures that incorporate fabric membranes can earn LEED credits for daylight harvesting. For example, Dancing Wings Butterfly Gardens, part of the Strong National Museum of Play, Buffalo, NY, earns two LEED credits for the daylight harvesting properties of its Birdair fabric membrane roof.

It is also important to acknowledge the continuing study of natural lighting in correlation with positive effects on the human body. Studies suggest that in hospital settings, increased daylighting improves both the speed and rate of patient recovery. In schools and other learning environments, other studies show a remarkable positive correlation between the amount of natural daylight and effective learning.