EL CAJON, CA—The design and layout need to accommodate incoming and outgoing customers, with sensitivities for the many types of visitors—some may be adopting an animal, while others are anxious to pick up a lost pet, C.W. Driver Co. project director Andy Feth tells GlobeSt.com. The construction firm recently broke ground on the El Cajon Animal Shelter here.

As Feth tells us, the new 10,900-square-foot facility will double the size of the current 50-year-old shelter and will include an innovative veterinary center, abundant housing for animals, pet-adoption services, administrative offices and more. In addition, the $9.3-million single-story shelter is funded by Proposition O special revenues, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by El Cajon voters in November of 2004 for improvements to public-safety facilities and a new animal shelter.

We spoke with Feth about the project, what's unique about animal-shelter development and how financing for these types of projects differs.

GlobeSt.com: What is unique about this project for your company?

Feth: This is C.W. Driver Co.'s first ground-up construction of a veterinary and pet-adoption facility. About a decade ago, we did a remodel for the City of Rancho Cucamonga's animal shelter. We are looking forward to this project since it is also the first design-build project we have done for the City of El Cajon, and we know the community has been eager for its development.

The new 10,900-square-foot shelter will double the size of the city's current 50-year-old shelter and will include an innovative veterinary center, abundant housing for animals, pet adoption services, administrative offices and more. With this in mind, we are making every effort to create a state-of-the-art facility, constructed with durable materials to preserve longevity and designed with the foresight for possible future expansion.

GlobeSt.com: What makes an animal-shelter development different from other types of construction?

Feth: There are several elements of design and function that need to be taken into consideration when developing an animal shelter. First and foremost, the design and layout needs to accommodate incoming and outgoing customers, with sensitivities for the many types of visitors. For example, some guests may be excited to adopt an animal, while others may be anxious to pick up a lost pet.

Aside from the emotional aspect of the design, the facility needs to be constructed to account for each aspect of the shelter. The veterinary portion of the space incorporates a partial medical facility for the care of sick and injured animals. The sick dog and cat isolation areas keep all air and water areas separate to prevent disease from spreading. To maintain high air quality throughout the facility, we are using an HVAC system to support the frequent air changes.

Finally, the design has to accommodate the outdoor kennels. To account for barking dogs, we are using strategically placed acoustic absorbing materials. This outdoor area also needs to withstand extreme wet areas since kennels get hosed down at least daily. In the same vein, drainage needs to be abundant to reduce risk for clogging, since considerable hair and other materials get washed away frequently.

El Cajon Animal Shelter new building rendering

GlobeSt.com: How is the financing different for these types of projects?

Feth: The financing is unique in that the city funded the project through a voter passed program. The $9.3 million shelter is funded by Proposition O special revenues, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by El Cajon voters in November of 2004 for improvements to public safety facilities and a new animal shelter. A decade later, the project is coming to fruition and is expected to be completed by spring of 2018.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about animal-shelter construction?

Feth: Since the community voted for the construction of the shelter, it is a popular project with the citizenry. Many prominent members of the City made a point to attend the groundbreaking, including El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells; City Councilmembers Steve Goble, Ben Kalasho and Bob McClellan; and City Manager Douglas Williford. The El Cajon Animal Center for Education and Services Foundation also put in hours of hard work and dedication to see the project to this point. It is encouraging to know that the community is looking forward to its completion, and C.W. Driver Cos. is proud to be a part of this journey with the City of El Cajon.

Instant Insights /

The Complexities of Building an Animal Shelter

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