Animal Shelter Design
A Different Breed Of Animal Shelter Design
Animal shelters are unlike any other type of structure, and Shelter Architecture Unleashed offers extensive experience in this field. From the start, our design team is focused on all the specific details and considerations that go into a successful project. Watch our video and hear architect Roger Layman describe how our expertise makes a difference.
When you start planning your new animal shelter, contact us on day one to put our experience to work for you. Call us at 704-756-3540.
704-756-3540
Details We Consider With Every Animal Shelter Design
Durability
Mechanical Systems
Disease Control
Daylight
Air Exchanges
Flooring
Sound Control
Drainage
Humidity Control
Plumbing Systems
Work Flow Of Staff, Animals And Public
Designing Shelters Of All Sizes
Every animal shelter is unique, with different goals and challenges. Maybe it’s time to relocate to a new, larger facility. Perhaps renovations can be made to enhance the existing shelter. There are no cookie-cutter answers. Our animal shelters have ranged from 6,000-square-foot to 26,000-square-foot facilities in rural and metropolitan areas. Shelter Architecture Unleashed will “Think Outside The Fence” to collaborate with you and your team and design specific solutions to fit your situation. Contact us today and let’s open the gate!
Featured Animal Shelters
Humane Society of Charlotte
Veterinary Architecture Unleashed designed a beautiful, functional, 26,000 square-foot facility for the Humane Society of Charlotte. This state-of-the-art animal shelter can house over 50 dogs and 50 cats while working towards successful adoption for these animals. The facility is also designed to provide affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter services for the community. We are so honored to be a part of the design team for this award winning facility.
Features:
- Adoption areas, medical clinic, and education spaces
- Administrative offices and support facilities
- Central corridor connecting program areas for efficient circulation and public/staff separation
- Generous entry canopies and welcoming lobby
- Indoor/outdoor education room with large glass garage door
“I have participated in a number of animal shelter planning and construction projects. Roger Layman and his team were pleasant to work with from start to finish. Roger impressed me with his ability to listen and ask questions to fully understand organizational and community needs being addressed with the project. Beyond that, what I truly appreciated, was that he cared about the needs of the staff using the facility daily to help animals. For Roger, his design (which is gorgeous and functional) was never about ego. It was about getting it right for his client.”
– Ellen Taylor, CDEP, CAWA
Chief Operating Officer, Humane Society of Charlotte
Click images in the gallery below to enlarge
See this video to learn more about the facility.
Lake Norman Humane
Lake Norman Humane was definitely “thinking outside the fence” when it purchased an existing 18,000 square-foot, pre-engineered metal building on approximately six acres located in Mooresville, NC. Veterinary Architecture Unleashed was selected to proceed with a building condition assessment and space needs program for the growing animal adoption center. It fills our hearts to work on animal shelters like this one, where pups and cats will find their forever homes.
During our building assessment, we quickly concluded the interior layout and all systems would need to be replaced. Lake Norman Humane then asked us to create a design to encompass approximately 12,000 square feet and hold the remaining space for future growth or for a potential compatible tenant.
Veterinary Architecture Unleashed designed a generous lobby to provide space for adoption days and special events, with an adjacent education/meeting room to serve the community. Cats and kitten areas are located within sight of the lobby, while dog and puppies are located away from the felines in their own spaces. Plans for the shelter also provided for an intake/surrender lobby and holding areas, administration offices, grooming area and 1,000 square feet to be used as future clinic space.
Click images in the gallery below to enlarge
Edgecombe County Animal Shelter
Location:
Tarboro, NC
Square Footage:
13,000 sq ft
The Edgecombe County Animal Shelter located in Tarboro, North Carolina, serves as the primary animal care center for the county. The facility includes administrative offices, a public lobby, and can house up to 60 dogs and 40 cats. This design included a pre-engineered metal building with high-performance interior finishes, LVT flooring in public and office areas, and epoxy flooring in housing for ease of cleaning and durability. The result is a safe, efficient, and resilient facility supporting county operations.
Click images in the gallery below to enlarge
Humane Society Of Delaware
Location:
Delaware County, Ohio
Square Footage:
Multi-building, 20,000 SF campus on a 29-acre rural site
This multi-building campus was designed to embody the mission of the Humane Society of Delaware, encourage community engagement, and support future growth. This project is in the fundraising stage, with renderings developed to communicate the vision.
Program / Features:
- Climate-controlled animal housing, medical and spay/neuter services, administrative offices
- Upper-level event/education spaces with river views
- Future phases: larger clinic, additional housing, barn for large animals, behavior/training facilities
Design Highlights:
- Integration with natural landscape and topography
- Architecture inspired by agricultural heritage and equestrian culture
- Flexible layout supporting phased construction
Click images in the gallery below to enlarge
Bristol Humane Society
Location: Bristol, Virginia
Square Footage:
9,500 sq ft addition with renovation of existing building, totaling 15,500 sq ft
The Bristol Humane Society was seeking to expand and modernize a 6,000 square-foot spay/neuter clinic, and increase surgical capacity and wellness services. This project is currently under construction. Once complete, this will be a modernized clinic with increased capacity and improved staff/client experience.
Program / Features:
- 9,500 square-foot addition with renovation of existing building, totaling 15,500 square-feet
- 6-table surgical suite, intake, exam rooms, administrative offices, education/outreach spaces
Design Highlights:
- New main entry for public identity
- Cohesive contemporary façade
- Efficient, integrated workflow for staff and clients
Colleton County Animal Services
Location: Colleton County, SC
Square Footage:
13,500 sq ft
The goal for Colleton County Animal Services is to create a new 13,500 square-foot shelter on a 12-acre site to expand
services for the community. This project is currently in the design phase, incorporating site planning and sustainable strategies.
Program / Features:
- Housing for ~70 dogs and ~50 cats
- Medical/spay-neuter services, animal control intake, administrative offices
Design Highlights:
- Lowcountry-inspired architecture with
screened “catios” and front porches - Durable wood/masonry construction with
pitched metal roof - Welcoming, regionally appropriate character
Click images in the gallery below to enlarge
Iredell County Animal Services & Control
Location: Mooresville, NC
Square Footage:
4,500 sq ft expansion
Iredell County Animal Services & Control is seeking to expand to meet growing operational needs. The design phase is currently underway using an updated site survey.
Program / Features:
- Enlarged public lobby with views into exotic
animal housing - Additional feline housing and 15–18 indoor/outdoor dog runs
Design Highlights:
- Day-lit entry sequence, maximized natural
light - Rotated dog kennels for efficient use of space
- Cohesive exterior designed to blend with existing facility