Adopting an abandoned animal is a way of showing compassion and opening your life and family to a new member. It requires not only meeting an animal but also a place that fosters a connection between the adoptive family and the animal. The Pet Adoption Center is an adaptive reuse of a 1930s garage. This sustainable gesture not only retains the historic scale of this residential area by bringing light and air but also enhances the safety and life of the neighborhood with eyes on the street and more pedestrian life.
The work included extensive repair to the 109th Street façade and installing a metal "rain screen." This lightweight armature creates a playful lenticular effect with changing colors as one walks east or west. Abstract graphic color is rare in the architectural realm but is a strong community signifier related to the facility's playful nature. Twenty-six colors slide from yellow tones to green to blue on the perpendicular-facing 4-inch steel fins. The colors flicker softly in the daylight when viewed from across the street, The interior has a welcoming area for onboarding.
A shared table is less challenging than a typical reception desk, accessible and adaptable. The lobby's main feature is the spirited 3D mural that utilizes a custom graphic of a cat when seen from the north and a dog from the south. This fosters a relaxed sense of community. The plan is based on animal and human safety, with cats in the front and dogs in the rear. Glass partitions with a graphic frit pattern ensure visibility to the animals while reducing aggressive behavior due to direct animal-to-animal eye contact.
The adoption success rates have risen! Visitor response, local word of mouth, social media, and animal websites have been positive. There is growing optimism around adoption!
Adopting an abandoned animal is a way of showing compassion and opening your life and family to a new member. It requires not only meeting an animal but also a place that fosters a connection between the adoptive family and the animal. The Pet Adoption Center is an adaptive reuse of a 1930s garage. This sustainable gesture not only retains the historic scale of this residential area by bringing light and air but also enhances the safety and life of the neighborhood with eyes on the street and more pedestrian life.
The work included extensive repair to the 109th Street façade and installing a metal "rain screen." This lightweight armature creates a playful lenticular effect with changing colors as one walks east or west. Abstract graphic color is rare in the architectural realm but is a strong community signifier related to the facility's playful nature. Twenty-six colors slide from yellow tones to green to blue on the perpendicular-facing 4-inch steel fins. The colors flicker softly in the daylight when viewed from across the street, The interior has a welcoming area for onboarding.
A shared table is less challenging than a typical reception desk, accessible and adaptable. The lobby's main feature is the spirited 3D mural that utilizes a custom graphic of a cat when seen from the north and a dog from the south. This fosters a relaxed sense of community. The plan is based on animal and human safety, with cats in the front and dogs in the rear. Glass partitions with a graphic frit pattern ensure visibility to the animals while reducing aggressive behavior due to direct animal-to-animal eye contact.
The adoption success rates have risen! Visitor response, local word of mouth, social media, and animal websites have been positive. There is growing optimism around adoption!