Manhattan PET ADOPTION CENTER

This adaptive reuse of a former warehouse enlivens a residential street with a joyful façade while bringing animals together with families.

The Manhattan Pet Adoption Center will provide a dedicated adoption facility for the Manhattan Animal Care Center operated by Animal Care Centers of New York City. The design transforms an existing garage with no street presence into a lively and welcoming community facility, offering a safe and healthy environment for dogs, cats, and rabbits awaiting adoption.

Animal Care Centers (ACC) mission is “to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, and rabbits, by adopting animals directly to the public… We help keep communities safe and rescue animals in need with a mission to end animal homelessness.” The design intention varies strategically from any standard model for pet adoption facilities as we provide a large welcome area for community gatherings. Staff sit with adoptive families at a shared table. Gone is the executive desk in favor of handheld devices and less intimidating reliance on paperwork.

The new Center is an accessible and equitable environment. The design reflects careful consideration of pet behavior and best practices for animal care. For example, dogs do not face each other and are separated from cats, reducing aggressive behavior and discouraging “runaways.” The inventive shift in procedure is a new way for staff to interact with clients, embracing gathering and informality with a large shared table encouraging conversation.