The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) is currently raising money to build a new and improved facility to better serve the community as their current shelter, built in 1968, can no longer do the job. According to the site, the shelter was designed to accommodate 2,500 animals per year but currently accommodates over 11,000 animals each year. (Now that's overcrowded!) They have obtained about 75% of the $9,500,000 needed to built the new facility. So they need a bit more to make this happen in 2010.
I remember hearing in the news this past winter that the shelter had some major issues with their heating system. Though I've yet to visit the shelter, I've passed by and from the looks of it, it really needs a serious update. The OHS also created a website dedicated to this project called breaking ground where they list the top 10 reasons why they need a new shelter and their vision of the new shelter.
It looks like OHS is going green and modern for this project. Which is great news! They are looking into passive solar heating, water management, energy efficiency, LEED certification and accessibility. The selected architectural firm for the job is Barry Hobin and Associates. The preliminary renderings looks nice too.
I remember hearing in the news this past winter that the shelter had some major issues with their heating system. Though I've yet to visit the shelter, I've passed by and from the looks of it, it really needs a serious update. The OHS also created a website dedicated to this project called breaking ground where they list the top 10 reasons why they need a new shelter and their vision of the new shelter.
It looks like OHS is going green and modern for this project. Which is great news! They are looking into passive solar heating, water management, energy efficiency, LEED certification and accessibility. The selected architectural firm for the job is Barry Hobin and Associates. The preliminary renderings looks nice too.
photo : OHSApparently OHS has taken pointers from the Winnipeg Humane Society which has a really nice looking building too, as shown below. I love the silhouette along the wall and the numerous windows for loads of natural light.
The new OHS facility looks like a really interesting project. I would have loved to take part in this. Of course, if it was up to me, I would also add some innovative ideas that would enable OHS to make even more money such as an affiliate dog and cat hotel, a pet spa, a pet furniture and accessories store, a coffee shop (kind of like the cat and dog cafes in Japan,) pet art gallery, pet training classes. Sky's the limit! Here are some more inspiring pet spaces.
Pussy & Pooch Pethouse and Pawbar (California, USA)
A feast for the eyes. I love the graphic design in this space.
PAW PAWS (Waterloo, Australia)
Another feast for the eyes! The best pet hotel I've seen so far. I like the ideas of the common spaces for pets to interact with each other. And the spa looks like it will not only be relaxing for the dogs but for the handlers as well, which can only help.
You too can help OHS by donating here or by coming up with something original, such as Rap for Charity by LifeAccording2Chris. I believe it's part of a DVD that recently raised over 500$ for OHS :)
The OHS definitely needs new digs. I was a volunteer dog walker there about 10 years ago, and even then it was in dire need of updates and a lot more space.
ReplyDeleteThe Humane Society of Silicon Valley is another modern & green animal shelter:
http://www.hssv.org/org_readmore.html
Great post topic :-) Don't forget the Wiggle Waggle Walkathon on September 13th :-)
Kelly
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ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly! I looked at the link from Silicon Valley and it's really nice. I love the idea of a park right outside the building and the dog and cat condos. It would be nice to see that in Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteAwesome rap!!
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