How Decorative Films and AP Corp solved Cylburn Arboretum's Glass Problem
Bird strikes and soaring cooling costs. Those were the two challenges Cylburn Arboretum faced at its Vollmer Center in Baltimore, MD — a striking glass building where beauty came at a cost. Migrating birds collided with the reflective façade daily, and rental operations struggled against extreme solar heat gain in summer.
In 2024, Decorative Films introduced Solyx BSF-DB35 Solar Bird Safety Film, an innovative solution that pairs the energy-saving power of solar film with patterns visible to birds. When AP Corp, one of Maryland’s leading professional window film installers, applied the solution at Cylburn Arboretum, the results delivered conservation impact, measurable ROI, and a stronger building envelope.
The Innovation: Solar + Bird Safety in One Film
Solyx Bird Safety Films first came onto the market with their dot pattern safety film in 2016. Using a semi-transparent bronze dot on a clear polyester film, it offered a solution that made glass visible to birds, without blocking views.
“Glass is not going away; it’s a wonderful medium within design, and it even has many health benefits for us as the occupants. But to protect birds, we have to be mindful of the dangers we’re creating for them,” said Aaron Lotinsky, Product Director at Decorative Films.
Over the next several years, Decorative Films expanded on their bird safety film collection, developing designs with horizontal and vertical bars, glass-like trellis patterns, and even a repeatable mural film by artist Ashley Cecil.
But with growing interest and legislative support for glass collision prevention measures in major metropolitan cities like Chicago, Washington, DC, and Toronto, Decorative Films noticed there was limited incentive to install bird safety film as a retrofit solution for existing buildings. Thus, they began developing a solar bird safety film, an innovative solution that combined solar film benefits with a pattern visible to birds, preventing glass collisions while reducing solar heat gain.
Cylburn Arboretum’s Dual Dilemma
Completed in 2010, the Vollmer Center is a landmark green building with a nearly all-glass façade. Its panoramic views make it one of Baltimore’s most desirable event spaces. But with that beauty came two costly issues: extreme solar heat gain and daily bird strikes.
“People love being in this building because of that indoor-outdoor experience,” said Christina Nutile, Events Manager at Cylburn Arboretum.
Through state and local funding, Cylburn’s team could secure grants to reduce solar heat gain, but bird safety solutions were harder to justify in the budget. Collisions during migration season occurred at alarming rates — sometimes six or more fatalities a day. That changed when Decorative Films introduced Solar Bird Safety Film: a retrofit that cut solar heat gain by up to 65% and prevented bird strikes.
A Fundable Solution
Once Decorative Films connected with Cylburn Arboretum, the facilities team approached the Baltimore City Department of General Services (DGS) about funding through an energy-savings grant. The project moved quickly, with installation completed before peak summer heat and fall migration.
“Buildings with glass walls get significant solar heat gain in the summer, which contributes to peak electricity loads. By adding solar film, we reduce cooling costs and stress on the grid,” said Frank Lee, Architect at the Department of General Services.
“We’ve dramatically improved the longevity and operating costs of the building and gained three things with this project: energy savings at peak periods, protection for migrating birds, and stronger, more resilient glass,” said Lee. “This is a permanent, 100% solution for the whole building.”
Installer Perspective: AP Corp Takes on the Challenge
Covering more than 4,000 square feet of glass required expertise. AP Corp, with over 20 years of experience, managed the complex install.
“We’ve installed other products with vinyl dots, but this application is great because the film is a continuous sheet. There’s no extra step in the process; for our installers, who are used to exterior solar or safety film, it’s just another large sheet to install with soap and water, making alignment true and consistent. That’s what makes this product really great,” said Bill Valway, CEO and owner of AP Corp.
“I love that a manufacturer like Decorative Films takes installation challenges into account, making products easier to work with. They think about both the buyer and the installer.”
AP Corp had worked with other Solyx products before, but the ROI aspect stood out here:
“From a dealer perspective, we’re always looking to deliver ROI for clients. With traditional bird film, there’s really no return—it’s just environmental. But with this film, we can reduce solar gain, creating financial return as well as environmental benefit. Something that would typically just be a cost is now an investment—reducing energy costs, delivering ROI, and doing good for the environment at the same time,” said Valway.
Results: ROI for Birds and Buildings
The installation wrapped in under a week, and Cylburn staff immediately saw results.
“During migration season, I was hearing and seeing between six and ten birds strike the glass within an eight-hour day. Since the film was installed, I’m happy to report we’ve had zero strikes—and there’s a noticeable difference to how much heat is coming through the glass,” said Nutile.
The TruEtch finish ensured aesthetics were preserved:
“The second day the film was installed, I drove by and couldn’t even see it,” said Melissa Grim with Baltimore City Recreation & Parks. “Sitting in the lobby, I didn’t notice the dots—it didn’t take away from the big vista of glass windows.”
The Decorative Films Difference
For Decorative Films, this project confirmed the market value of Solar Bird Safety Film:
“The project was a success, and the feedback we’re hearing from Cylburn is exactly what we hoped for,” said Lotinsky. “They’re feeling a noticeable difference in the sun's intense heat, which means the solar properties of this film are doing their job, and they’ve had zero glass collisions.”
With over 700 stock products, custom solutions, and a global installer network, Decorative Films continues to innovate for both dealers and end users.
“It’s been amazing to see how Decorative Films has grown and expanded while maintaining strong customer relationships and innovating,” said Valway. “This new solar bird film product is a great example: there was a market need, and they didn’t just launch a product. They spent the time to develop a quality film that meets client expectations and solves significant market issues. Now we’re working with it, and we can attest it’s a good product we enjoy installing.”
As part of its conservation mission, Decorative Films donates 3% of proceeds from every bird safety film to the American Bird Conservancy’s Glass Collisions Program.
“Our solar bird safety film is the only product on the market that empowers existing buildings to protect birds by covering exterior glass, offering a return on investment while improving building performance and sustainability. It's a true win for birds and tenants alike,” said Lotinsky.
A Call to Installers
The Cylburn Arboretum project proves the value of Solar Bird Safety Film: real ROI, real conservation impact, and installer-friendly application.
If you’re a professional installer, explore Decorative Films’ dealer resources or contact us to bring this solution to your next project.