Name:Reno 4 Street Transit Station
Location:Reno, Nevada
Architect:Parsons Brinckerhoff, NYC, NY
Installer:West Coast Construction, Reno NV
Project Overseer:Michael Langen, HDR Inc, Reno, Nevada
Purpose:
Diverting large and small bird species from the 2.5- acre municipal transit station’s 25 bus bay canopies. Exposed structural steel beams, building ledges and parapets were an open invitation to the birds.

According to project overseer Mike Langen from HDR Inc; Addressing these issues called for an integrated bird management plan. “The number of birds increases and decreases with the changing seasons. During peak times the bird waste could have caused structural damage and created a health risk for employees, passengers and visitors.“

Problem:
Reno’s resident population of starlings, pigeons, seagulls were a genuine concern. The local health department had the foresight to ask the transportation authority to include a bird control system in the plans for the new station. Their concern is well founded. Bird waste can contain up to 60 transmittable diseases as well as parasites, fungi and molds. Being acidic, bird waste is also a long-term threat to structural surfaces, coatings, painted surfaces and electrical equipment.

In addition, the new transit center is LEED certified. This means they needed a LEED compliant bird control system. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design that focuses on lowering a building’s environmental impact while improving environments for workers.

The last problem would be the preservation of the station’s dramatic design. Reno’s 1% Public Art Requirement for municipal construction has given the city a vibrant image. For the 4 Street Station project, the renowned artist Donald Lipski’s iconic 1962 GMC “Fish Bowl” tour bus has become an instant landmark. Tom Brooks-Pilling, the Architectural Practice Leader for Parsons Brinckerhoff of New York, specified a combination of Nixalite’s Premium all stainless steel barrier spikes in several ColorCoat colors and an area bird dispersal system from Nixalite.

Over 45,000 feet of the Premium Nixalite spikes in 3 ColorCoat colors were installed along with the bird dispersal units without detracting from the project’s functional and artistic design. The project was completed on schedule and under budget.

Results:

“They (Nixalite) were one of the easiest manufacturers to work with and even talked our first-time installers through the installation process.” Jim Miller – West Coast Contracting of Nevada. Mike Langen of HDC Inc. was the site overseer representing the RTC. He was very impressed with the commitment Nixalite made to the project. Case in point: Reno’s 4 street station now serves approximately 8,000 Washoe Country and metropolitan Reno and Sparks travelers a day, none of whom need worry about pest birds and the mess they could have made if not for the integrated bird management program in place and working as intended. “They knew that one of the products being considered would simply not do the job to our satisfaction and made the right recommendation; replacing it with a more effective solution.”
West Coast’s Project Manager, Jim Miller observed; “We got what we were looking for. Nixalite did an outstanding job developing drawings and making recommendations. They took another step by figuring a way to reduce the order (without reducing the effectiveness of the overall job) “very happy” with the products and offered positive comments including the ultimate maintenance compliment; “No problems” More than 45,000 feet of Premium Nixalite in three different ColorCoat colors were installed on the 4th Street Station. Graphic from Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. Designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff Architects, NY, NY.

Summary:

Reno’s 4th Street Bus Station, Reno Nevada The Lake & 4th street entrance features the iconic pole-mounted fishbowl bus, entitled “Jackson” created by Donald Lipski. The architect specified Premium Nixalite in Tan, Grey & White ColorCoat colors Area bird dispersal from Nixalite manufacturers to work with and even talked our first-time installers through the installation process. I can’t say enough about their support. They made phone calls out of the blue to ask how we were doing and whether any additional support was needed.” Premium Nixalite Barrier Spikes are physical barriers that prevent birds from landing on ledges, beams, pipes and other exposed surfaces. Top architectural firms such as Parsons Brinckerhoff, regularly specify Premium Nixalite to protect their new designs as well as renovations and historic sites. In his conversation with the architect, RTC Director Bob Russell said; Nixalite is “all over Disney World and I want to have it here”.