New York, New York, USA
The Department of Design and Construction of New York has appointed Studio Joseph to create an animal adoption center in order to cover Manhattan’s needs on animal care.
For East Harlem, the conflicting requirements of creating a friendly front door for families with those performing more difficult talks is untenable.
This project has been awarded a 2021 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The renovation of their adjacent warehouse to create a friendly place for pet adoption (dogs, cats, rabbits) saves these animals, brings joy to families, and revitalizes the community with its welcoming street presence.
Reusing the structure is a sustainable act, preserving the history of the place and preserving this Harlem residential-scale where gentrification and new high-rise buildings threaten the fabric.
The facade celebrates pedestrian life, enlivens the street, and creates a safe space for residents and the Center’s clients.
By replacing the garage door with a large window, natural light drives deep into the building.
The facade itself, a “rain-screen” that opportunistically utilizes the existing openings (a requirement of the zoning), creates a playful lenticular effect of changing colors one walks down the street.
The optics also show as more subdued when viewed head-on from across the block.
The large cat colony is a continuous source of entertainment.
The interior layout balances the pragmatic needs for animal safety with areas of community gathering and informality.
A graduated ceramic pattern on the glass partitions dividing the cats and lobby provides the animal a sense of security.
A playful mural in the lobby area employs a lenticular effect portraying a cat or dog graphic depending on the view, encouraging the guests to move around and engage with each other, staff, and potential pets.
This project is an adaptive reuse of a storage warehouse, originally built as a garage. Although the original brick walls were intact, the wood-framed roof needed reinforcing, especially around the skylights.
The building lacked mechanical systems and did not meet current codes for resiliency.
However, the team believed that they should be preserving this piece of urban fabric. In keeping this building, the architects create a warm, welcoming, equitable place on one level.
The East Harlem neighborhood is one that is rapidly gentrifying. Small-scale buildings are being replaced, changing the sense of place, amount of sunlight at street level, and the economics of retail.
Therefore, saving this particular garage structure, once one of many on the street, adds to urban memory.
We define ourselves as a community by how we care for those unable to care for themselves. As we protect our fellow citizens, we protect our wildlife and domesticated animals as part of our shared humanity.
Therefore, the design varies from the typical pet store model as it provides a gracious welcome area for community gatherings.
Staff can sit with adoptive families at a shared table in a flexible arrangement.
Gone is the administrative desk in favor of handheld devices and less intimidating reliance on forms.
Wellness; As part of New York City’s public program, the design takes heath as its first and foremost charge – the health of staff, guests, dogs, cats, and rabbits.
This means thinking holistically about mental and physical health. The systems embrace high requirements for air exchange and sanitation.
Utilizing the original skylight and facade openings, natural light (essential to animal behavior) permeates all spaces.
“Meet and greet” rooms are strategically located with views to the exterior. The building is on track to achieve LEED Silver certification.
Project: Manhattan Animal Adoption Center
Architects: Studio Joseph
Client: Department of Design and Construction, New York
Renderings: Studio Joseph
