Emily Mayforth

LINKING THROUGH LOCK-DOWN CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS 6 FEET APART

1.0 BACKGROUND 2.0 TRENDS & CONCEPT 3.0 PRECEDENT ANALYSIS 4.0 SITE AND CONTEXT 5.0 KEY PROJECT PROPERTIES 6.0 ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE ISSUES 7.0 DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPT 8.0 NEXT STEPS 2

1.0 INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND Covid 19 has caused a strain on a lot of businesses and organizations, one of them being Animal Shelters and Rescues. Even with businesses starting to reopen, shelters are going to struggle to maintain social distancing based on their current conditions. During the shutdown, some shelters were able to remain open since they were deemed essential but had to close access to the public or book by appointment only. This meant they could not offer services or space needed to continue to rescue surrendered pets. Many shelters have had the opportunity to foster out their pets but the concern is what happens when everyone is forced to return to work and pets are returned to the shelters. I want to do extensive research to see the social, mental, and physical impact and benefits restructuring shelters could have in order to better prepare for the future. If my design could have some social impact on how to improve the connection between people and animals in a shelter during times of crisis that would be my ultimate goal.

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RATIONALE The timing of this project is critical to limit the amount of time shelters have to remain closed. With every day that shelters are forced to remain closed, they are limiting the animals they are able to bring in to emergency cases only. The amount of adoptions and fosters have increased limiting the number of animals currently in the shelter, but those numbers are based on lower intake levels. The hope of this project is to allow shelters to reopen at full capacity to continue to help as many animals as possible.

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2.0 TRENDS AND PROBLEM

HISTORY Taking a look back in history, let’s look at the beginnings of one of the largest pet rescues in the United States, the ASPCA. The ASPCA was founded in 1866 with a mission of fighting animal cruelty, It all began the day Henry Bergh was traveling for work in Russia and saw a carriage driver beating a horse that had fallen in the street. From that moment on he decided he was going to dedicate his life to reducing the amount of animal cruelty in the world, founding the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1866. Even though he faced hardship in his battle, he truly believed that all animals were entitled to respectful and fair treatment that should be protected by law.

SOURCE (1): ASPCA 7

HISTORY When the ASPCA was founded, it was the only humane society in the Western Hemisphere. The ASPCA founded a movement in helping animals that would only continue to grow. While their first goal was to rescue animals, facilitating tens of thousands of adoptions each year became a huge focus of the organization. In order to assure they could successfully place animals, in 1973 the ASPCA began spaying and neutering all animals to keep pet population under control. In 1993 they became the first organization to utilize state of the art microchips in order to help with animal identification.

The ASPCA didn’t stop there officially launching their partnership program in 2007 to help support at risk animals around the country through a variety of services including grants, training, and many other resources. Through all of these services they provide, the big picture the ASPCA focuses on is being able to save as many animals as possible. Their full circle of work includes animal rescue, animal placement, and animal protection. Even though they have accomplished so much since their founding in 1866, they don’t plan to stop until they achieve their ultimate goal of a nation free from cruelty to animals.

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SOURCE (1): ASPCA

TRENDS AND KEY WORDS AMBIENT WELLNESS

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

•Built environment •Overall wellness •Positivity

LIMITED CONTACT

ANIMAL SHELTERS

•Fear of the unknown •In person contact

•Life long relationships

SOCIAL HIVE

PARTNERSHIPS

•New wave of communication •Social Media spike •Virtual Events

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BACKGROUND PROTECTION

SHELTER

RECONNECTION 10

TO OVER 6.5 MILLION PETS EACH YEAR

BACKGROUND 12,000

DOGS GET TAKEN IN BY THE CINCINNATI SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS EACH YEAR THAT AREN’T REGISTERED

7,000

DOGS GET ADOPTED

5,000

REMAIN IN THE SHELTER AND MAY NEVER GET ADOPTED

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SCENARIO PLANNING Right now it seems as if we are living in an alternate reality. The days seem endless and as if they are on repeat. While this may be our current reality at some point the world will return to normal. The things that kept us entertained during quarantine will get tossed to the side and forgotten. While it is a scenario we may not want to think about, when life resumes people may no longer want the responsibility involved with having a pet. Coming out of the stay at home order, people will want to take trips, go out to bars, and spend a lot less time in their homes that have become like a prison. The cuteness of the puppy or kitten will wear off. These things combined will not produce a good outcome for all of the pets that were adopted to combat boredom during the past few months. The worry is that this will lead to a surge of surrendered and mistreated pets that shelters can not keep up with. While this is a reality we do not want to see it is one we need to be prepared for.

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PROBLEM

70%

Since the start of the pandemic, fostering has increased 70% compared to the same time last year. With fostering being such a critical tool during the pandemic some people are wondering why there is still a problem that needs to be addressed. While it is important to limit the number of pets living in the shelter due to limited staff, all of the animals in foster homes still have to find a way to be adopted. The number of pets that get adopted by their foster, or become a foster fail, are very low.

On top of getting fostered animals adopted, there is also the concern of owner surrenders due to hardship from the pandemic. The director of the ASPCA adressed this saying “I’m not just worried about foster animals coming back, but also people giving up their own pets because they’ve lost their jobs or income and can no longer afford them. It will be a tough situation all around” (Hansen, 40).

SOURCE (24): DAILY BEAST 13

COVID IMPACT While animal shelters were deemed an essential business at the beginning of the pandemic, business was not able to continue as usual. Due to social distancing guidelines put in place by the CDC, shelters were not going to be able to function with the same capacity that they did before. In order to control future effects of the pandemic the National Animal Care and Control Association released a set of guidelines for shelters to follow. They asked animal control agencies to eliminate all non essential shelter intake. All low priority and non emergency activity needed to be discontinued. They were still encouraged to respond to any emergency and high priority calls. All medical supplies needed to be preserved as well as minimizing the potential from human contact exposure. Lastly shelters and spay-neuter clinics had to limit surgeries to emergency cases only. These guidelines put a huge strain and halt on shelters moving forward.

SOURCE (25): UC DAVIS SHELTER MEDICINE 14

3.0 SITE AND CONTEXT

SITE CRITERIA A.

B. PROMINENT LOCATION

MULTIPLE OR SPACED OUT FACILITY

LARGE FOOTPRINT

SEVERAL ENTRY POINTS C.

PARK OR GREEN SPACE

FLEXIBILITY

A. 4101 SPRING GROVE AVENUE

EASY ACCESS

NATURAL LIGHT

B. 639 ROCKDALE AVENUE C. 1105 ELM STREET

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SITE SELECTION AMERICAN CAN LOFTS A. 4101 SPRING GROVE AVENUE

• SIZE OF FACILITY •ABILITY TO SEPARATE SPACE WITHIN THE CURRENT SHELL • LARGE GREEN SPACE ON SITE • ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL LIGHT • LOCATION OF NEARBY ANIMAL SHELTER

NEIGHBORHOOD STATISTICS POPULATION MALE POPULATION: 49.52% FEMALE POPULATION: 50.48% EMPLOYMENT SELF EMPLOYEES: 7.6% PRIVATE COMPANIES: 64.87% GOVERNMENTAL WORKERS: 11.81% NON PROFIT COMPANIES 15.72% FAMILY STATISTICS HOUSEHOLDS WITH KIDS: 26.4% HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT KIDS: 73.6%

SOURCE (4): POINT 2 HOMES

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4.0 KEY PROJECT PROPERTIES

TARGET USER

Bagel and her sister were abandoned by their owner when they were just kittens. Already having a cat, their owner didn’t want the responsibility of taking care of more animals. They were left at a park and feared for their lives until someone found them and brought them to the rescue. Bagel loves to cuddle and play with her favorite mouse toy squeakers. She would love to find her forever family and finally have a place to call home.

BAGEL 8 MONTHS DOMESTIC SHORT HAIR KITTEN “BALL OF ENERGY”

ANIMALS

WHAT THEY SAY : “whine”, “bark”, “meow” WHAT THEY FEEL : abandoned, mistreated, lonely, confused, depressed, hopeful WHAT THEY DO : wait loyally, search WHAT THEY THINK : Where did my owner go? Why aren’t they home anymore? I miss my family.

Sally is the assistant director of the rescue and primarily works on animal intake and capacity. She has a huge heart and has adopted two fur babies of her own. Her passion for animals is astounding.

While she is concerned about the impact of the pandemic, she is determined to make sure all animals in need find a loving home and family.

Sally 26 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR “KITTEN WHISPERER”

SHELTER EMPLOYEES

WHAT THEY SAY : What is going to happen when all of this ends? Will we see a surge or decline?

WHAT THEY FEEL : Concerned, stressed, worried WHAT THEY DO : Plan safety measures, contact current fosters about future plans WHAT THEY THINK : I hope there isn’t a surge of newborn pets. I hope people continue to care for the pets they adopted.

Karen is a mother of two crazy boys, Noah and Anthony. Her kids have been begging for a dog for two years, and after hearing about the rescue on social media, Karen decided it was time to adopt. The family is spending lots of time at home and it will give the boys an extra sense of responsibility that they need. Karen did lots of research online and is ready to take a leap and meet their new pet.

KAREN 28 MOTHER OF TWO “MAMA BEAR”

ADOPTERS

WHAT THEY SAY : What will I do with my pet when I return to work?

WHAT THEY FEEL : Confused, worried, anxious WHAT THEY DO : Research options for pet care, rearrange schedule WHAT THEY THINK : How am I going to balance a new pet and going back to work? What will my everyday life look like now?

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ZONING MAP CLINIC CARE

LOUNGE ROOMS

ADMINISTRATIVE

OUTDOOR ZONE

ANIMAL HOUSING

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5.0 DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS

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DESIGNING FOR WELLNESS What is designing for wellness?

•When designing for wellness it is important to think about animals natural behavior. Animals need to be able to make their own choices. Negative impacts need to be considered and the compression of space and how it impacts natural behavior. It is also important to look at red flags that might appear in animals based on the design of their space.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS •APPEARANCES •SPACE QUALITY •SPACE QUANTITY •SEPARATION OF SPACE •ENRICHMENT •HIDING PLACES •ELEVATION •LIMITS ON STRESSORS •LIGHT •LIGHT CYCLES 22

•FLEXIBILITY OF SPACE •CLEANING •ISOLATION / SEPARATION OF SICK •TEMPERATURE •AIR QUALITY •FRESH AIR •NOISE •ACTIVITY •SAFETY •PREDATOR / PREY RELATIONSHIPS SOURCE (1): ASPCA

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

UNIVERSAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

•Double Compartments •Open Air / Interactive Fronts •Adequate Size to Stretch •Partial Width Only for Guillotines •Partial (Not Compete) Visual Barriers •Adequately Sized Litter Box Cubbies •Cat Cages Elevated Off the Floor •Provide Concealment and Enrichment •Provide Bedding •Improve Efficiency •Large Walkways •Hiding Places

Design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities:

SOURCE (1): ASPCA

•The space will combine a variety of different activities that will cater to a wide age range and ability type •The setup of the space will allow users to actively participate or watch

Design Accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities: •With a wide range of activities there will be something that appeals to everyone •Users will have the option to participate in indoor or outdoor activities

Use of design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level:

•Staff will be located throughout the space to help users with any questions or confusion •Education touch points will help users grow their knowledge while they are circulating throughout the space

Design communicates necessary information effectively to the user regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities: •The design will combine a variety of sensorial experiences throughout the space catering to every users senses •The design will be immersive without the need to rely on sensory reactions

Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility •The buildings will function independently and as well as in union •Technology will act as an additional touch point for users beyond the physical space

SOURCE (2): CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN

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LINKING THROUGH LOCK-DOWN CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS 6 FEET APART Through interactive and educational opportunities, shelters can help form a significant bond between animals and their future families. It will go beyond the design of a traditional animal shelter creating enriching moments such as education touch points and outdoor parks to build a foundation before leaving the shelter.

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EDUCATION •TOUCH POINTS WITH INFORMATION ON CURRENT ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER •FACTS TO REDUCE STEREOTYPES ON CERTAIN BREEDS •AWARENESS ON IMPORTANCE OF SHELTERS

SAFETY •COMFORTABLE HOUSING FOR ANIMALS •MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED •STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHILE ANIMALS WAIT FOR THEIR FOREVER HOME

CONNECTION •SPACES OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER THAT ALLOW ANIMALS AND ADOPTERS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS •MEET AND GREET LOUNGE SPACES •ABILITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS PRIOR TO VISITING THE SHELTER 25

PROGRAM EXPLORATION I created a series of axon diagrams exploring different elements that could positively benefit the design of the space moving forward. For example the first series explored sunlight, housing, play, egress, elevation, blend, materiality, perforation, and privacy.

POINTS OF LIGHT

TRAINING ROOM

EAST-WEST NORTH-SOUTH HOUSING LOUNGE ADMINISTRATIVE CLINIC POINT OF CIRCULATION

POINTS OF LIGHT EAST-WEST NORTH-SOUTH

HOUSING

SUNLIGHT

PLAY

PERFORATION AND EGRESS

SUNLIGHT AND PERFORATION

CAT HOUSING DOG HOUSING QUARANTINE SPACES

TRAINING ROOM CAT PLAY ZONE LOUNGE SPACE DOG PARK

HOUSING AND PLAY

ELEVATION TRACK

CONCRETE WIRE CAGING WOOD GLASS TURF TUNNELS EXTERIOR SPACE

CAT HOUSING DOG HOUSING QUARANTINE SPACES

EGRESS

ELEVATION CONCRETE

BLEND

ELEVATION AND HOUSING

EASTW EST

COMPOSITE DOG HOUSING QUARANTINE SPACES

MATERIALITY

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PERFORATION

PRIVACY

SUNLIGHT AND HOUSING

MATERIALITY AND BLEND TUNNELS EXTERIOR SPACE HOUSING LOUNGE ADMINISTRATIVE CLINIC POINT OF CIRCULATION

POINTS OF LIGHT CAT HOUSING

BLEND AND EGRESS

ELEVATION TRACK TUNNELS EXTERIOR SPACE

ELEVATION AND BLEND

PROGRAM EXPLORATION I continued this exercise through the series of diagrams you see here that led to the ultimate Richard Serra diagram you see on the right that was heavily influenced by the Richard Serra vocab list we were given as a studio.

FLOOR PERFORATION

TO OPEN

LAYER 1

TO SUSPEND CC

TO SPLIT

OF NATURE 2’ CEILING DROP

TO DROP

OF LAYERING

O

TO REMOVE FLOORING

TO FLOW

OS CO

C

TO SPREAD

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SECTION DIAGRAM

OCCUPANCY

Through section, I also took the time to explore a series of conditions that could affect the program going forward. First looking at occupancy and where people would spend the majority of their time. With natural light being so important in shelters, I wanted to document where light could be seen coming into the building. I wanted to document the path of circulation that would dominate the site. And lastly I looked at adjacency and how the different services would relate to each other.

LIGHT

CIRCULATION

ADJACENCY

VET CLINIC

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ADMINISTRATIVE

LOUNGEA

NIMAL HOUSING

ANIMAL DETAILS I designed a dog run that would allow the dogs to move from their kennels into an agility zone that would allow them to exercise and play several times a day with the help of a shelter employee. In addition to the dog run, I thought about the design of the dog cages giving each kennel a guillotine door to allow for separation of sleep and bathroom.

Looking at the cat run, I also thought through the design of the cage giving them a portal door to again allow for that separation and lessen anxiety. A series of tunnels would connect to their cages and allow the cats to move freely between their cage and the indoor cat lounge at programmed times throughout the day.

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SECTION

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ANIMAL VS HUMAN PERSPECTIVE Here you will see a series of views from both the human and animal perspective to show how the design might effect both users.

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CAPACITY It is important to examine the capacity limits of the space in order to comply with the design for wellness guidelines that ensure the best environments for animals in the shelter.

50 CATS MAX

16 DOGS MAX

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OVERALL PLAN

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LOUNGE

•The lounge will take on a similar design of a cat cafe but will allow users to rent out their own room to better abide by social distancing guidelines and still allow adopters and animals to connect outside of a cage environment.

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ADMIN

•Next is the admin space where users will first arrive when they come to the site to check in. It will also hold servers staff services and offices as well as a training room where classes will be held monthly to engage the community and hopefully decrease the amount of pet surrenders.

MEDICAL

•Next is the medical clinic that will offer services to the community in addition to servicing all medical needs of the shelter.

HOUSING

•And lastly is the housing for both cats and dogs. It is separated to allow for easy of anxiety for the animals and to provide a calmer environment. Both sides include an immersive experience that allow the animals to get out of their cages and express natural behavior.

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EXTERIOR PERSPECTIVE

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ADMIN

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LOUNGE

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CAT HOUSING

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THANK YOU

EMILY MAYFORTH 40