Brooklyn Animal Care Center to Provide State-of-the-Art Services for Animals in Shelter

An artist’s rendering shows the upcoming two-story facility that will serve as the Brooklyn Animal Care Center

Previous Warehouse Building Demolished for New, Sustainable Two-Story Facility

Today was announced that construction has begun for the new two-story Brooklyn Animal Care Center, after recent demolition of the previous building. DDC is managing the project for DOHMH, which is anticipated to be completed in fall 2026.

The new 23,900-square-foot, two-story building will be equipped with a thru-block parking lot, benches, bike racks, and necessary administrative offices. The project will install new sidewalks and trees in front of the building, as well as planters and trees at the parking lot and entrance. The facility will also include a generator that can power the entire facility in case of a power outage. The design will allow the building to manage stormwater run-off by using permeable pavers, extensive plantings, and a rainwater collection system that harvests water for site plantings.

The facility will be able to provide necessary care to pets in need thanks to a brand-new medical suite. Additionally, an outdoor dog run on the second floor will help pets receive critical enrichment and exercise as they wait to be placed into homes.

When completed, the new Brooklyn Animal Care Center is expected to meet LEED Silver standards for environmental sustainability. The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) also allocated funding for this project to include energy conservation features. The building will prioritize sustainability through pent roof/solar array shades, solar tubes on the roof for daylight, a high-efficiency lighting system, electric-vehicle chargers, and plug load controls. The project will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 34 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) and a reduction of 360 metric million British thermal units (MMBtu), per year, which is equivalent to the energy usage of 25 NYC households.

As a part of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Percent for Art program, the new Brooklyn Animal Care Center will feature vibrant artwork created by Olalekan Jeyifous. The artwork, named “Colorful Companions” will be integrated along the building’s façade on Linden Boulevard, rear parking lot and interiors. The proposed artwork, which earned a 2020 Public Design Commission (PDC) award, will liven up the Center and be easily visible to passing pedestrians and drivers, in an effort to draw people in.

The new Brooklyn Animal Care Center is part of DDC’s Design Excellence program and was designed by Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects. MPCC Corp. is handling demolition and construction. DDC also recently built the new Manhattan Pet Adoption Center and the new Staten Island Animal Care Center, while Animal Care Centers of NYC built a new Care Center in Queens. In May 2023, DDC and the NYC Health Department broke ground on a new facility in the Bronx in 2023.