Master planning services, including programming and conceptual design, were provided for a 53,000 square foot animal care facility.  In consultation with the Humane Society, Whitmore Architects developed the program for the facility and was responsible for giving direction to and managing the design team that included a planning consultant and civil engineer.

The Humane Society has provided animal adoption, care and holding services in the San Diego region and from the Sherman Street site since the 1950’s.  In 2003, the Society relocated its primary services to a new facility on Gaines Street in the same Linda Vista neighborhood.  Since that time, the Society has continued to grow in its provision of animal services from a community-based organization to a nationally-recognized non-profit animal services provider.  As a part of this growth, the Sherman Street Facility has provided much of the critical non-public support services necessary for the Humane Society.  However, the needs and opportunities for improved levels of services have been limited by the existing facility, which prompted the design of a new facility for Sherman Street.

The project is designed to fit on two adjacent parcels owned by the Humane Society.  The first parcel, on Sherman Street, is designed to contain a two-story animal care and holding facility with a combined area of 43,000 sq. ft. of interior-conditioned and covered-unconditioned spaces; an existing 2,700 sq. ft. structure which serves an associated organization is to remain.  The second parcel on Anna Street is designed to contain a two-story storage and garage building of 6,000 sq. ft.