Animal Refugee Response Center
Additional Info
Award Winner : Modern Building Systems, Inc.
Architectural Excellence : The Animal Refugee Response Shelter, is one of a few NO KILL shelters in California. The shelter houses both dogs and cats for adoption and is entirely funded by private donations. They receive many of their pets from local vets who are faced with owners who do not want to treat their sick or injured animals. Rather than euthanize, they call Animal Refugee. Modern was contacted by the founder, who needed a design that would encompass large & small dogs, cats, puppies & kittens, & disabled animals with medical needs or isolation. The facility consists of (4) 12’ x 42’ modules placed in a courtyard configuration with exterior, shaded, grassed in runs for large dogs. The courtyard is fully enclosed & secured, allowing small animals to roam freely in a grassy area with play equipment. We worked with the client to provide as much as was possible, given the budget - both a functional shelter that would house a diverse population of animals & give a pleasant viewpoint to drivers passing by.
Cost Energy Effectiveness : The property is owned by the State of California’s Department of Transportation. It had been vacant for some years, but was not for sale. However, Cal-Trans does have some serious animal lovers, and they donated to our client use of the property, with the provision and understanding that it may need to be vacated for road construction after three years. This left the refuge faced with the challenge of how to construct a longterm, attractive shelter in a cost effective manner in the face of possible requirements for removal down the road. These well-built, temporary modular buildings allow the shelter to relocate within a couple of weeks if necessary, giving them the ability to reopen in a new location with minimal downtime and costs. The client (and the dogs and cats) are thrilled with their new surroundings; looking forward to temporary stays in their new modular home.
Occupied Date : 4/9/2012
Production Start Date : 1/10/2012
Project Location City : San Pablo
Project Location State Name : CA
Technical Innovation : Much of what was accomplished on site was done to incorporate four separate buildings, with different populations, into a unified plan giving free access to employees and clients, & still maintaining control of animals, who, in many cases are allowed freedom to roam within specified areas. Maintaining a clean environment, as well as bathing and caring for the animals, takes a lot of water. The facility has a solar heating system to provide hot water for these demands. Additionally the 4 separate electrical panels were integrated into a single Main Panel, with future connections for Photovoltaic power. The buildings themselves are built to the current CA Title 24 energy codes & have R-38 ceiling, R-30 Floor & R-21 wall insulation, as well as recycled flooring & insulated windows. All to keep a clean, healthy environment for our furry friends.
Total Square Feet : 2016