Veterinary Hospital Design & Animal Shelter Design

Little Rock Animal Services
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Little Rock, AR

The City of Little Rock decided to build an animal shelter that embodies a new progressive approach to animal care; embracing the goals of adoption and community education. Constructed on a highly visible and picturesque site, the new facility combines animal adoption services together with animal control services. Designed to be built in phases, the completed building includes animal medical facilities, training spaces, meeting rooms and administrative offices. An Interactive Corridor functions as a "central spine" with educational facilities, donation honorariums and multiple opportunities to encourage adoptions in an enjoyable, uplifting, sun-filled environment that is finished with warm colors and natural materials.

Brazos Animal Shelter
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Bryan, TX

The Brazos Animal Shelter has purchased a magnificent 17.5 acre site for its new animal shelter. The site is located on a well traveled road for easy public access and close to the University of Texas Veterinary School which will be sending students to the shelter to work in a custom designed Teaching/Treatment Area. The site also includes a small pond which will become part of a garden/sanctuary where a pet mausoleum will be located facing the pond. The new shelter will contain, in general, seven areas: 1-Public Waiting, Reception, Pet Retail & an Animal Art Gallery; 2-Canine and Feline Animal Housing; 3-Canine and Feline Adoption Areas including two unique Canine Cottages with Bonding Areas; 4-Spay/Neuter Clinic & In-House Veterinary Clinic; 5-Administration Offices and Conference Room; 6-Staff facilities including an outdoor dining patio; 7-Maintenance, support functions including vehicular delivery areas and storage. Overall, the shelter is designed specifically to shelter and care for stray and unwanted animals, promote adoption and foster successful pet/owner relationships through education and ongoing outreach & support.

Cocheco Valley Humane Society
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Dover, NH

Having outgrown their existing facility several times over, the Cocheco Valley Humane Society (CVHS) now plans to meet both current as well as future needs of the community. Situated near the Cocheco River, this 19,000 SF animal shelter will contain boarding areas for cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and small mammals as well as adequate office, volunteer, and storage space. With a strong commitment to education and community interaction, the facility will contain both indoor and outdoor multi-function spaces, a learning center as well as adoption rooms where potential adopters can bond with their new pet. CVHS will be built in two phases as funding becomes available.The building is separated into two wings to conform to the natural slope and curvature of the site as well as to humanize the scale of the building. The facility is nestled below a landscaped hillside to help focus views out to picturesque fields. Large amounts of glass further strengthen the building’s interior / exterior relationship with the site. The CVHS also incorporates many "eco-friendly" features such as solar panels, a vegetative “green” roof and sustainable building materials. Water efficient fixtures, low-VOC adhesives/paints/sealants, as well as energy efficient HVAC system further strengthens the facilities commitment to the environment.

Heritage Humane Society
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Williamsburg, VA

Located in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, the original Project Program called for a 22,000 square foot, two-level animal shelter. The photographs below demonstrate rfa's ability to value engineer a Project in order to meet a specific budget. The animal shelter is home to the Heritage Humane Society and James City County Animal Control. The shelter is designed to be built in three phases. Phase 1, depicted below consisting of approximately 9,000 SF, includes separate runs for adoptable dogs and stray dogs and adoptable cats and stray cats. An “Interactive Corridor” runs through the center of the facility as an internal spine. The Interactive Corridor provides educational opportunities for the public to learn about adoption, proper pet care, to view selected animals, to help enhance and facilitate adoption and in general, to make visiting the shelter a fun and enjoyable experience. Functioning as bright, sun-filled anchors at either end of the Interactive Corridor, a sky-lit indoor/outdoor exercise yard is provided for the dogs at one end and a sky-lit cat play and socialization porch is provided at the other end. Phase 2 will include Administrative Offices and a Spay/Neuter Clinic on the Second Floor.

San Francisco de Asis Hospital Veterinario
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Hatillo, Puerto Rico

This project is the brain child of a dedicated Veterinarian who is a true visionary and understands the potential of a full service hospital to serve the needs of his clients. Strategically located within 1.5 hours of most major metropolitan areas in Puerto Rico, the new San Francisco de Asis Hospital Veterinario will include medical care for small animals plus boarding, grooming and retail. The medical component includes ultrasound, endoscopy, dentistry and hydrotherapy (whirlpool and treadmill). There is also an entire equine component including equine surgery. The total medical component is approximately 14,200 SF. An upper level will provide 5,800 SF of office rental space primarily for a national pet pharmaceutical company looking to locate offices in Puerto Rico. A separate ground-level entry lobby services the second floor. Veterinary Specialty and Referral services may also be provided on the upper level.

North County Animal Hospital
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Paso Robles, CA

Dr. Bell’s goal was to build a new, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital to replace his existing free-standing 50 year old structure in the central California coastal city of Paso Robles. The new building is the first phase of a two phase master plan to provide both medical care and boarding. The new two-story, 4,200 SF, hospital is designed to operate as a full service veterinary center, offering medical, surgical, dental, preventative medicine and diagnostics for small animals. Phase two entails the renovation of the existing building into a boarding and grooming center opposite the new hospital. Paso Robles has a long history of wine producing in California. The design of the hospital reflects the metaphorical qualities of a winery interpreted into contemporary context. To capture the aesthetic flavor of a winery and Paso Robles’ rich history, we used indigenous earth tone colors complemented by ledger stone accent walls, reminiscent of a wine cellar. Special decorative glass door and window treatments, laminates and metalwork are also incorporated into the architectural design.

Institute of Veterinary Specialists
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Gainesville, FL

The Institute of Veterinary Specialists is by far not your ordinary Animal Hospital. The Institute is comprised of two components. One is a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital with an emphasis on cardiology. The other is a Telemedicine Center serving veterinarians throughout the United States. The Center receives questions on complex medical cases, analyzes the data and then advises veterinarians on how to handle these cases. The circular Waiting Area also functions as a semi-circular lecture hall for professional seminars. The image of a spiral is inlaid into the floor of the Waiting Area and into the exterior stonework of the drum enclosing the upper volume of the Waiting Area. The spiral symbolizes holistic healing.

Lake Forest Animal Hospital
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Gaithersburg, MD

The existing Lake Forest Animal Hospital had reached the end of its usefulness and needed to be replaced by a new full-service, state-of-the-art hospital. The entrepreneurial spirit of the owner dictated a 4 exam room hospital that also included standard and luxury boarding for dogs and cats plus a living unit for a senior staff member. Due to the small site area, this 10,900 SF project had to occupy three levels. The hospital is located on the main level with on-grade access. Boarding and grooming occupies the lower level that expands out to a sunken courtyard for light, air and exercise. The upper level contains the resident living unit plus doctor’s offices and the conference room.

Butterfield Animal Hospital
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Temecula, CA

Butterfield Animal Hospital is a general practice of approximately 2,600 SF of leased space. Located within the Butterfield Ranch Shopping Center in Temecula, Southwest California, this desert hospital design is the culmination of Dr. Ken Kalthoff’s desire to reflect both the old traditions and natural beauty of historic Temecula, together with the new business directions of the Town Square Marketplace. This was Rich Rauh’s second project with Dr. Kalthoff, the first being the Animal Urgent Care Center of South Orange County. The interior colors and finishes reflect Dr. Kalthoff’s desire to create a warm, client friendly atmosphere with significant attention to detail. Both the out-patient and in-patient areas of the hospital are strategically designed to maximize efficiency through short trip distances and well thought out functional arrangements.

West Orange Animal Hospital
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West Orange, NJ

Located on a relatively large wooded lot in northern New Jersey, the Owners, a husband and wife team of veterinarians, are replacing their existing hospital with a new, state-of-the-art hospital designed to deliver veterinary medicine in the most efficient and effective way possible. The new 9,200 SF facility will also provide premium boarding for both dogs and cats. Designed to be warm, friendly and inviting, the Waiting Area features a sloped cathedral wood ceiling, clearstory windows, built-in upholstered seating surrounding a central planter with a triangular skylight above. Around the perimeter of the Waiting Area is a pet retail shop, cat boarding condos, a cat play tree, the Exam Rooms and one Consultation/Euthanasia Room.

West Caldwell Animal Hospital
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West Caldwell, NJ

Nestled in a small suburb town in northern New Jersey, this hospital occupied what was once a typical single family ranch style house built in the early 1960’s. Over the years, the hospital’s client base has grown considerably, necessitating a major overhaul. This 8,300 SF project is comprised of three levels. The hospital occupies the main level with more amenities offering greater efficiency and medical effectiveness. A lower level will contain canine and feline boarding with direct access to an exterior exercise area, enabled by a sloping site. The upper level will contain two 2-bedroom apartments for members of the staff. The expanded upper level will help provide a fresh new look to the entire hospital.

Zhejiang University Veterinary Teaching Hospital
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Hangzhow, China

Located about two hours north of Shenghai, China, Zhejiang University is planning to build a new Veterinary Teaching Hospital. RFA was invited to the University to help develop a comprehensive Project Program for the new facility. The new Veterinary Teaching Hospital will include Outpatient Exam Rooms, Dentristry, Central Treatment Area, Intensive Care Unit, Hydrotherapy Room, 4 Surgery Suites, Special Procedures Room, Oncology, Radiation Therapy, CT Scan, MRI, Necropsy Room, Aodine 131 Room, Hospital Wards, Administrative Offices, Conference Rooms, Clinical Blood Pathology Lab, Clinical Bacterial Culture Pathology Lab, Histopathology Lab and a Lecture Hall with 80 seats.

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
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Basseterre, Saint Kitts

On the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, Ross University conducted major Programming for a <a href="https://veterinary.rossu.edu/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">School of Veterinary Medicine</a> in 2011. This teaching hospital program included a new 30,000 SF academic building and a new 12,000 SF veterinary teaching hospital. The new academic building included suites for a multipurpose lab, small animal clinical skills, necropsy, and communication skills as well as a teaching clinic, an anatomy lab, a research lab, classrooms, and student collaboration spaces. The new veterinary teaching hospital included exam rooms, a lameness (gait) evaluation area, a central treatment area, pharmacy and lab areas, teaching rounds rooms, an intensive care unit, surgery rooms, and units dedicated to radiology, ultrasound, chemotherapy, special procedures, dentistry, and physical therapy. All rooms and all spaces were designed to accommodate faculty, students, and/or public patients where appropriate.

Hyman Residence
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Ladera Ranch at Covenant Hills, CA

This architectural gem was inspired from a Tuscan Hillside Villa. The property’s natural setting in the hills of Southern California resembles that of Tuscany with its rolling terrain, oak trees, sage and rugged valleys. The single story floor plan and design resulted from the client’s desire to have this home personify his love for art and his leisure lifestyle. The casual symmetry of the 4,000 SF floor plan revolves around a central cloister patio that also defines the casual living spaces. A sleek, contemporary Italian interior design is juxtaposed against the exterior’s rusticated Tuscany motif. The playful contrast of random size stone and smooth plaster walls, modulating plate heights, towers with peek window accents and tiled gable roof elements were all inspired by the romance of the Tuscan farmhouse. Rich landscaping is enhanced by individual private garden patios, low planter walls, fountains and terraced entry features.

Stadium Theater
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Woonsocket, RI

The Stadium Theater in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, required major renovation, as well as the addition of five dressing rooms, a "Green Room," a wardrobe room, and other performance support areas. The addition also included a new outer lobby that would connect the existing front entrance and lobby on one side of the theater with the parking lot on the opposite side. <b>rfa's</b> proposed outer lobby (new foyer), with its ornate elliptical domed ceiling, leads directly into the Central Lobby. The project also included the complete refurbishing of the theater's seating and interior finishes, together with new stage lighting and a new sound system.