The design of the new state-of-the-art animal shelter for Vancouver | Daily Hive

This is the design of the new state-of-the-art animal shelter for the City of Vancouver

Concept of the new Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1210 Glen Dr., Vancouver. (Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers/City of Vancouver)

What does a modern animal shelter look like when it is designed to support happier, healthier animals?

The City of Vancouver is advancing its project to build a brand new Vancouver Animal Shelter to replace an aging facility, expand capacity, and improve animal care spaces and safety, as well as to provide additional areas for staff, volunteers, and visitors.

The municipal government has submitted a new development permit application to build the “state-of-the-art” facility at the 20,000 sq. ft. plot of land at 1210 Glen Dr. — located at the southeast corner of the intersection of William St. and Glen Dr. This is just one block east of the existing 1976-built animal shelter facility at 1280 Raymur Ave.

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The municipal government acquired the Glen Drive site in 2015 for its adjacency to the existing animal shelter — deemed at the time to be a strategic potential future development site for a new shelter facility.

Both the new and existing sites are located immediately east of Strathcona Park. The new location also fronts the busy CN railway.

1280 raymur avenue vancouver animal shelter

Existing Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1280 Raymur Ave., Vancouver. (Google Maps)

1210 glen drive new vancouver animal shelter

Walking distance from the existing Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1280 Raymur Ave. (left) to the future new facility at 1210 Glen Dr. (right), Vancouver. (Google Maps)

Existing condition of the site of the new facility:

Site of the new Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1210 Glen Dr., Vancouver. (Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers/City of Vancouver)

Site of the new Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1210 Glen Dr., Vancouver. (Google Maps)

Future condition of the site of the new facility:

Concept of the new Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1210 Glen Dr., Vancouver. (Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers/City of Vancouver)

According to City staff, the existing animal shelter is outdated and no longer meets modern operational or industry standards, particularly for animal care and effective quarantine of sick animals. It is inadequately equipped to accommodate the diversity of animals it serves and lacks sufficient space for public education, adoption services, and community engagement. City staff previously stated that the facility’s shortcomings could harm the City’s reputation because it makes it harder to deliver animal services that match the quality offered in nearby communities.

In addition to the half-century-old main structure, the existing facility is also supported by a portable trailer and tented structures, and the entire compound is secured by perimeter chain-link fencing.

According to City statistics, the number of dogs going through the Vancouver Animal Shelter, operated by the City’s Animal Services department, has been on an organically falling trend — steadily dropping from nearly 1,600 dog intakes in 2005 to about 600 in 2019, just before the pandemic’s temporary artificial trend that saw a big spike in adoptions. This is attributed to new sterilization policies by shelters and private veterinarians, increased awareness of responsible pet ownership, and the increasing popularity of animal fostering.

Over the same period, there has been an increase in the intake of smaller animals — such as birds, reptiles, and rodents — rising from just about a few in 2005 to over 200 in 2019. The existing animal shelter is not equipped for other species.

Designed by the Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers and landscape architectural firm Hapa Collaborative, the new animal shelter at the new Glen Drive location is designed to be a safe, durable, and welcoming place for both animals and staff, using the latest best design practices for such facilities. It will have a total building floor area of nearly 14,000 sq. ft. over two levels.

Tall perimeter walls and fencing — about 10.5 ft (3.2 metres) high — will surround the site to meet safety and building code requirements. Instead of using standard chain-link fencing, the design will treat these boundaries as part of the building itself. They will be made from strong, long-lasting steel panels that serve as both walls and fences, creating a secure and consistent look around the entire site.

Concept of the new Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1210 Glen Dr., Vancouver. (Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers/City of Vancouver)

The materials will be chosen to handle heavy daily use and to age well over time. Concrete blocks will be used at ground level and anywhere animals come into contact with the building because they are tough, easy to clean, and simple to maintain. Weathered steel will be used for fences, exterior walls, and sun-shading elements. Over time, the steel will naturally change colour, helping the building blend into the area’s industrial surroundings while still standing out as an important civic space.

Natural light will be a key feature throughout the shelter. The building will be laid out so that both animals and staff have access to daylight and views, making the space healthier and more pleasant. Ceiling heights vary depending on how each space will be used — lower ceilings in kennel areas help animals feel more secure, while higher ceilings in storage and work areas allow light to travel deeper into the building.

The structure will make strong use of wood. Reusing the mass timber found in the existing warehouse building on the site, while also adding new mass timber, will create warm, natural spaces inside. Wood materials will also used to help people find their way through the building and to give different areas a clear sense of purpose.

Animal comfort will be the heart of the design. The shelter supports both short stays and longer-term care. Special attention will be given to temperature control, noise reduction, clean air, and hygiene. The layout considers how animals move through the building, what they see, and how different spaces feel to them. All materials are selected to be safe for animals, easy to clean, and long-lasting.

The outdoor areas will be designed to keep animals calm and protected. Dog kennels will face landscaped spaces rather than busy streets. Solid panels will block views of passing cars and pedestrians at eye level, while perforated panels above will allow light to come in and make the enclosure feel less heavy and closed-off. This creates a peaceful environment for animals while still keeping the site visually interesting from the outside.

Concept of the new Vancouver Animal Shelter at 1210 Glen Dr., Vancouver. (Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers/City of Vancouver)

The City’s 2022-2026 Capital Plan, approved by the previous makeup of City Council in June 2022, provided a budget of up to $22 million for such a project. That same month, during an in-camera private meeting, City Council approved City staff’s recommendation to explore a potential partnership with the BC SPCA to renew their separate, nearby aging facility at 1205 East 7th Ave.

Located immediately east of the Vancouver Community College’s Broadway campus and south of SkyTrain’s VCC–Clark Station, BC SPCA’s facility at 1205 East 7th Ave. has long been envisioned by the charity for redevelopment into a brand new 120,000 sq. ft., multi-level “animal campus.” The proposed campus would include a veterinary hospital, animal gymnasium, animal shelter, education centre, public atrium, the BC SPCA’s provincial office, and additional office space to support future expansion.

In June 2023, the provincial government committed $7 million to the BC SPCA to help fund the construction of a new Vancouver facility. At that time, the project was described by the provincial government as a new facility with a 20,000 sq. ft. animal shelter, a 9,000 sq. ft. veterinary hospital, and a 5,000 sq. ft. education centre.

Then in February 2025, City Council amended an industrial zoning definition to better accommodate the BC SPCA’s future redevelopment plan for 1205 East 7th Ave. The proposal was then described as including a new animal shelter, animal hospital, and provincial offices for the organization — remaining broadly consistent with the original vision, though without reference to a potential partnership with the City.

1205 east 7th avenue vancouver bc spca animal centre redevelopment concept

Previous highly preliminary concept of BC SPCA’s redevelopment and expansion of their existing facility at 1205 East 7th Ave., Vancouver. (BC SPCA)

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