Sioux Falls Area Humane Society

INTRODUCTION Client: Sioux Falls Area Humane Society Date of Completion: 2002 Total Area: 12,400 square feet This state-of-the-art animal shelter replaces the Humane Society’s obsolete facility. The shelter is designed to increase the adoption rate by creating a welcoming environment, giving people an opportunity to find and get to know a new pet.

SITE The Humane Society selected a rolling site at the edge of the community near an expanding industrial park. A former farm, the site included a barn and several other outbuildings. The twenty-acre site will allow for long term growth of the facility and provide for potential expansion of services to include horses and other large animals.

PROGRAM - DESIGN The Humane Society identified a series of objectives for the new animal shelter: • Provide a more customer friendly atmosphere to increase adoption rates.

• Accommodate at least 25% more animals than the current facility and provide for future expansion.

• Separate stray animals from adoption animals and provide separate quarantine areas with separate HVAC to avoid disease transmission between animals.

The plan creates separate zones and circulation systems for staff and the public. The staff zone is organized to promote the efficient operation of the facility, while the public zone is organized to make the visit as interesting and appealing as possible. A cat condo is included in the lobby, and a wildlife holding room (a space not previously open to public view) is placed nearby.

DESIGN The design places building functions in two masses, the design of which draws from the farmyard and industrial park character of adjacent areas. Most animal holding and processing areas are located in the larger, metal building structure. Most people spaces are located in the smaller, wood framed structure.

These two structures are connected with low roofed links that form the courtyard.

DESIGN The building is expandable in all directions. Mechanical equipment is placed in a mezzanine where it will not interfere with future expansion.

Animal areas are compartmentalized to minimize noise and odor transmission in the building.

DESIGN Natural light, warm colors, a sense of openness with good noise and odor control and a well-organized layout contribute to this positive experience.

DESIGN Cat, dog and exotic animal adoption areas are organized along a mall-like hall.

DESIGN The shelter is separated into public and staff zones, is well ventilated and uses easily maintainable and cleanable materials to create a safe and hygienic environment for the animals, staff and public.

DESIGN A courtyard provides a place where animals can be taken outside without risk of runaways. (Note the bone shaped pavement area, fire plug and light pole.)