As millions of migratory birds travel through Chicago each year along the Mississippi Flyway, the city becomes both a critical habitat and a dangerous obstacle. Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem explores how architecture, urban design, and public policy can help create safer environments for birds and other wildlife while fostering healthier cities for all.

Designed and co-curated by Studio Gang in collaboration with the Chicago Architecture Center, the exhibition translates more than two decades of research into an accessible public experience. Span partnered with Studio Gang and the CAC to develop the exhibition’s graphic identity and environmental graphics, shaping a visual narrative that transformed complex ecological data into a compelling and approachable story.

Working across every graphic touchpoint, Span established the exhibition’s overall look and feel, from large-scale wall graphics and interpretive panels to typography and informational displays. The graphic system brought clarity and hierarchy to a dense body of research while introducing warmth, humanity, and a sense of wonder. Oversized display typography gave voice to the exhibition’s mascot, the ovenbird, helping guide visitors through the experience and connect emotionally with the challenges facing migratory species.

The exhibition combines architectural models, building material mockups, photography, original illustrations, interactive media, and community-sourced artifacts to demonstrate how bird-safe design can operate at every scale, from residential windows to landmark skyscrapers. By translating scientific research into an engaging spatial experience, Flyway City invites visitors to become advocates for a more resilient and flourishing urban ecosystem.