Work on the Eco-Fence Project was finished in the spring of 2004, but the project continues to complete itself as native plants fill in the Greenscreen, birds discover the nest-boxes, and the Ohio City community gets to know the fence itself.

The Eco-fence was born from a competition conducted in late 2002 by Cleveland Public Art and the Cleveland Green Building Coalition. The site is at the corner of Lorain and Fulton, where a carefully restored bank building was turning into a living encyclopedia of green building techniques. The competition called for a fence that would secure a parking lot but also be an extension of the Adam Joseph Lewis Cleveland Environmental Center. Goals included implementing solar, using recycling materials, and making expressive use of native planting component.

Our team proposed 2 additional goals:

• A contextual relationship to the CEC building using materials and fabrication that speak to the heritage of Cleveland, i.e. steel.
• The key concept was to create an “urban ecology” outpost. A scientific point from which bio-indicator “bird counts” and other bio-diversity observations could be made. Essentially a bird fence.

Key to the idea was the public’s role in the promotion of bio-diversity. We felt there could be an extension of a bird friendly garden into the neighborhood. This was in keeping with the CEC’s role as an exemplar, helping to understand and apply new ideas.

To strengthen this concept, Alison Ball from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History gathered a room of natural scientists and ornithologists representing the user, the birds of Ohio City. Modifications were made, heights adjusted, materials refined, target birds were identified, and bird friendly plants were suggested. “Design review” has never been more enjoyable.

Design elements of the Eco-Fence
The Eco-Fence is designed primarily to provide shelter for birds, and the native plantings would a potential year round food source.

• 14’ tall steel posts carry redwood nestboxes.
• Greenscreen panels provide a structure for vines and plants.
• Stainless steel wire provides a “public space” for birds to congregate.
• Sandstone panels carry bird imagery at the base of the fence.
• Solar lighting creates a glow under the nestbox where a glass lens is mounted.
• Posts serve as gateways into the CEC.

Fabrication

• Precision Welding of Cleveland provided design assistance and fabrication of the steel systems. This relationship proved to be the most important connection, as their expertise made the robust Eco-Fence design affordable. Their tremendous machines bent and cut with incredible precision and efficiency. The several steel pieces and parts were no problem for a shop that typically bends 2” steel plate into perfect circles for replacement parts on salt mine vehicles or metal crushing wheels.
• Amie Mcneel, professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art, added her expertise to the design with artful welds in the final installation.
• The base of the Eco-fence is articulated with 2’ squares of reclaimed sidewalk stone. Stone Artist Chris Nespeca collaborated to supply reclaimed sandstone from various demo sites across Northeast Ohio. These sandstone squares exhibit various geological characteristics, and reinforce the avian theme with sandblasted etchings of birds by the graphic artist Elizabeth Kairys
• The nest-box is plugged into the top of the 14’ arcing steel post. The 14 redwood boxes were created in collaboration with designer Eric Rutkowski.
• The posts incorporate a Solar LED light system devised by Mike Stevens that lends an ambient glow through the glass lens mounted beneath the nestbox.
• The 14 hand blown lenses were created by Mike Kaplan at the Glass Bubble Project.
• Plants were generously donated by the Holden Arboretum.
• Ed Small, Cleveland Urban Properties, is the generous patron of the Eco-Fence.