City Opens Expanded Manhattan Pet Adoption Center on East 109th Street

The new Manhattan Pet Adoption Center at 323 East 109th Street is a modern, new, inviting space designed by local firm Studio Joseph where families can meet and then bring home their newly adopted pets (Credit: Alex Fradkin)

The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today joined Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) and local community leaders to celebrate the completion of the new Manhattan Pet Adoption Center, which is opening to the public on October 29. The $6.3 million project to create the new 2,500-square-foot center converted a former garage at 323 East 109th Street into a modern, welcoming space to connect dogs, cats, guinea pigs and other animals with their future families. DDC managed the project for DOHMH and ACC.

Project details

The project renovated the old garage’s interior and exterior with new roofing, skylights, lighting and fixtures, while a new glass system for the kennel area now showcases the animals available for adoption. The building’s floor was replaced with a new concrete slab that includes additional drainage, and new energy-efficient HVAC equipment was installed to meet the current standards for animal care. A new front entry is fully accessible to the public while a second exit was added so that staff could more easily access the rear yard behind the building. The building’s cellar was also upgraded and waterproofed.

The building now has a colorful façade that brings in daylight and creates an attractive and engaging street presence, while a steel rainscreen adds depth while preserving the existing masonry behind it. The design, which was completed by the firm Studio Joseph as part of DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence program, has won an Award for Excellence in Design from the NYC Public Design Commission and a Global Future Design Award from the design industry group APR.

DDC completed its work at the new Manhattan Pet Adoption Center in February 2024. Last month, DOHMH and ACC opened the first full service animal shelter in Queens. DDC has recently completed or is working on four separate animal shelter projects. Mayor Eric Adams joined DDC, DOHMH and ACC in October 2022 to open a new shelter in Staten Island. In May 2023, the city broke ground on a new facility in the Bronx. DDC is also renovating the Brooklyn Animal Care Center for ACC.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.