National Aviary's new $4M Garden Room has bird-safe wall of glass overlooking park

The National Aviary has opened its $4 million Garden Room for special events with features such as fireplaces and a bird-safe glass wall that opens into Allegheny Commons Park.

The nonprofit has been fundraising and planning for years to bring the dream of the room, kitchen and large entryway to fruition.

“The Garden Room provides us with a beautiful and abundant space to hold events like small group brunches, holiday celebrations and education programs that serve our community,” said Cheryl Tracy, the aviary’s executive director. “It also provides a dazzling space for rentals, which helps to generate critical funding to support the mission of the Aviary and the care of our birds during this uncertain time.”

The newly constructed 9,000-square-foot event space with a disability-friendly 2,000-square-foot lobby is built on thepatio next to the century-plus-old rose garden. “We wanted a seamless flow from the aviary with the garden room opening up into the historic rose garden and then flowing into Allegheny Commons Park and Lake Elizabeth,” said Sam Moore, director of guest operations.

Unlike the outdoor patio, the Garden Room is available year round. Bookings have begun and a small wedding ceremony was held in the rose garden Thursday evening with the reception in the Garden Room.

The Garden Room can hold 200 people but because of current covid-19 restrictions, has a capacity of 40 people.

The room connects to the Charity Randall Foundation Eagle Hall, providing easy access for guests to explore all of the aviary habitat rooms, which is a bonus for renting an aviary space.

In addition to private events, the aviary will feature community events and serve up Sunday brunch to the public in the Garden Room starting this Sunday and continuing every Sunday through the end of the year.

LEED certification is in the works for the room, Moore said. The building is constructed of wood and masonry with windows on three sides and the glass wall.

Other sustainability features include an onsite stormwater management system and light refracting skylights for natural lighting and heating.

The project was led by architects Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel and contractors Jendoco Construction Corp., both of Pittsburgh.

Funding for the room came from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Charity Randall Foundation, Hillman Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation, Allegheny Regional Asset District, Allegheny Foundation, Allegheny County, Jack Buncher Foundation, Charles M. Morris Charitable Trust, Robert and Mary Weisbrod Foundation, and original National Aviary Board of Trustees member Michael Flinn and his wife, Eileen Flinn.