Erik Mar
East Valley Animal Services Center

The East Valley Animal Service Center is a City of Los Angeles animal shelter, with a total building size of around 65,000 s.f.

Located in the San Fernando Valley on a lot scarcely larger than the required program area itself (the total square footage available for construction is 5000 square feet less than the total required program area), we have developed an extremely efficient floor plan layout so as to maximize opportunities for generous public spaces.

The Service Center's schematic concept is composed of three exclusive but contingent sectors; each of which serve different functions and are therefore treated as a distinct volumes: a community assembly/training room, the dog kennels, and the staff support spaces. This latter volume of course is comprised of numerous sub-functions, such as a Spay and Neuter Clinic, a medical area, animal transfer areas, and staff administrative offices, among others. The Community Room acts as the hub around which the entries and Lobby revolve. Across the Lobby from the Community Room volume is a direct entry to the kennels, which in many ways is the single most important space in the Project, and one whose success determines the overall success of the Animal Facilities program at this location. There is a clear distinction in plan between the areas accessible to the public and the areas accessible only to staff, again, an important factor in a Service Center's successful operation.