Officials have signed a contract with Tulsa-based GH2 Architects to design a new, expanded animal shelter for the City of Tulsa.
The $4.7M shelter expansion project was approved by voters in both Improve Our Tulsa programs.
The city plans to expand the facility at 3031 North Erie Ave. to include city-owned land to the south, incorporating an expanded lobby, a separate adoption center and customer parking, as well as space for dog walking trails along Coal Creek.
The firm will also be evaluating opportunities to make the entire facility more customer friendly and inviting, with investments in signage and public art.
As part of itsmanaged competition proposal for animal shelter operations, shelter staff presented an approach to address capacity needs in an expansion, such as an adoption center and space for volunteers, which would allow the existing facility to be rehabilitated and focused on field intake, new kennels, and the clinic.
Expansion of the Animal Welfare Center is part of a broader initiative to improve animal welfare outcomes in Tulsa. These steps are being taken:
- Increasing the Tulsa Animal Welfare (TAW) budget by 36%,
- Adding 12 new field and shelter positions, with vehicles and equipment,
- Expanding shelter and field service hours,
- Formalizing partnerships and secured grant funding,
- Establishing an Animal Welfare Commission to provide advice and advocacy, and
- Updating animal welfare ordinances and policies.
The concept design process is expected to continue into the fall, with architectural design and engineering to follow, and then construction.
GH2 has experience designing animal welfare and veterinary facilities. They understand issues such as cross-contamination, ventilation, sanitation, material selections, traffic flow, and staff and patient safety.
Their recent design of the Pampa, Texas, Animal Welfare facility includes volunteer and community outreach program spaces, such as a multi-purpose community room and adoption center with both indoor and outdoor get-acquainted areas, as well as a large dog park. Other relevant project experience includes:
- Small and large animal veterinary clinics
- Architectural services for Oklahoma State University’s Dairy Center
- Programming, Master Planning and Conceptual Design Services for the 450-acre Equine Facilities Master Plan for Texas A&M University
- Design of the critical care wing of Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
- Programming, Master Planning and Conceptual Design for the Therapeutic Riding Center at the J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities.