Santa Clara’s Animal Services Center
The County of Santa Clara’s new Animal Services Center is a state-of-the-art 24/7 animal care facility that functions in a park-like setting, with innovative and sustainable building systems.
The Animal Services Center has capacity for 54 dogs and 90 cats, with spaces for other types of animals including rabbits, horses, and goats. To house and showcase larger animals, a barn is sited along the main building frontage, increasing visibility.
Taking a distinct departure from traditional shelter design, dog kennels are organized around an outdoor landscaped courtyard named “The Park”. Together with surrounding “Get Acquainted” pods, the experience offers a bright and open area to meet and greet potential pets in a natural park-like environment.
In addition to animal adoption, a primary objective of the Animal Services Center is to educate the public about the benefits of spaying and neutering through use of the Animal Clinic located inside.
Another key solution the Animal Services Center provides is its large educational meeting facility. Not only are animal-specific community events held there, but other County agencies can utilize the assembly space for conferences and gatherings up to 150 occupants—a resource they previously lacked.
The Animal Services Center has a distinct building form inspired by the agrarian context. Five gable roof forms are extruded across the site and intersect with the building massing. Both building and landscape are formed into a series of peaks and valleys that reflect the surrounding landforms. The extruded roof form was chosen to reflect a modern approach to the rural context the building is located upon. The linear rib pattern creates a distinct shadow line across the roof and the façade, showcasing the dynamic roof form as it rises and falls at varying slope angles, mimicking the Santa Cruz mountains in the distance.
