New City Kennel

Matching the built environment to a philosophical shift in animal care

Bowen provided architecture, engineering, and construction administration of a 13,500 SF new animal shelter for the City of Cleveland. Bowen teamed with ARQ Architects, a national firm that specializes in animal shelters. This new kennel marks a philosophical shift away from containment toward readying animals for adoption. The new civic facility includes acoustically-separated “pods,” which provide a greater sense of calm for the animals, and cages are no longer stacked on one another. The facility also provides more natural light, making the animal care and adoption areas more hospitable to the users.

The 4.8-acre site includes 5 fenced-in play areas and exercise yards with all-weather turf. Medical amenities include an exam room, treatment and surgery facilities. Sustainability efforts include a rainwater harvesting system, and energy recovery system, and LED lighting.