BEAUTIFUL PLACES COMFORT AND HEAL
As architectural designers, we strive to create Beautiful Places for people to live, learn, work and play. Many of us invite animals into our lives as family pets. They ask for little in return, except that we care for and love them. Designing architecture for animals housed within a facility or requiring health care instead of being in their known home setting requires a different approach altogether.
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ANIMAL-CENTERED DESIGN
To stay healthy, animals need to feel safe and comfortable when introduced into new environments. This level of pet comfort is easy to achieve in our own homes. Replicating these conditions in an animal care facility is challenging to do efficiently and for multiple animals at once.
When planning a facility, designers consider that animals will not always be in peak condition when they enter the facility. They may be physically as well as emotionally unwell. Especially rescue animals that have sometimes suffered in traumatic situations or suffered abandonment. Even the most well-adjusted animals may be fearful in unfamiliar environments.
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DESIGN EXPERIENCE IN A NICHE MARKET
After decades of experience working in this unique market, Blue Sky has a developed a deep respect for the animals and their handlers. They have successfully designed projects for various organizations, from veterinary practices to pet adoption shelters and everything in between. Many of these organizations have been clients for years, having phased their campus development according to their capital campaign assets.
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FACILITY TYPES
We provide design and construction administration to:
– veterinary hospitals, including MRI, laboratory, chemo, necropsy, and training spaces
– veterinary clinics
– offices and other support spaces
– grooming facilities
– adoption shelters & rescue facilities
– doggie daycare
– boarding environments
– working barns
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ADOPTION SHELTERS + RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS
There is an industry saying that ‘the best shelter is an empty shelter.’ It means that the organization has found homes for the animals formerly in their care. When an organization’s mission is pet adoption, designers pay attention to the places where the human visitors and potential pets interact. This place of connection must support the emotional needs of visitors and animals alike. Blue Sky designers have found many exciting ways to make the connection-space interactive and inviting, hopefully encouraging a human-animal bond.
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COVID 19 and the ‘NEW NORMAL’
Animal adoption centers become higher profile during the 2020 global pandemic. Many people’s mental health began to suffer when isolated during lock-down. People saw the extra time at home as an opportunity to bring a new pet into their lives. Successfully matching people and companion animals created symbiotic relationships that alleviated suffering and benefited the health and well-being of both humans and their pets.
As workers return to the office, the pandemic-related rise in pet adoptions has led to an increased need for multi-function spaces that could serve as doggie daycare facilities and support the training and education needs within the community.
Organizations have been adapting to societal changes due to the pandemic. While their mission to help animals remains the same, they realize that their approach and the services they offer may need adapting.
Blue Sky is aware of these changes and is actively helping clients adapt to serve animals better as they transition into a new normal.
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INGREDIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT OUTCOME
Blue Sky views the CLIENT| BUILDER | ARCHITECT as members of the same team, all working together for a successful outcome. They feel that involving the builder as early as possible leads to a better result. Blue Sky is proud of its work with shelters and rescue societies. They continue to partner with these and other animal-care organizations, finding innovative solutions to serve the needs of our animal friends, who add much joy to our lives.
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THE BLUE SKY TEAM
Rick Kasten and Nick Collins lead Blue Sky Architects, specializing in the architectural design of animal care facilities. They also work as consultants with local architects & engineers across the US, giving specialized animal care facilities support. With over 20 years of experience, Rick + Nick bring their extensive knowledge combined with an affection for animals to every phase of the design process.
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As a division of OLSON LEWIS + Architects, Blue Sky continues its mission to design the ultimate environments enabling our clients to provide excellent care to animals.
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