January 4, 2018

Best Friends Animal Society by Ra-Da: 2017 Best of Year Winner for Nonprofit

Raise a rafter? Sure. But how about raising consciousness? Conceiving a Utah-based organization’s first East Coast adoption center, principal Rania Alomar pictured not just a place to resettle pets but also a platform to articulate the mission of eliminating U.S. kill shelters by 2025. “The center is a sanctuary in the middle of Manhattan, referencing the temperament of the organization,” Alomar explains. And winning acclaim, starting with a NYCxDesign Award prior to Best of Year.

Best Friends Animal Society by Ra-Da in New York. Photography by Ralf Strathmann.

Canyons between Utah’s grandiose red-rock formations inspired the 3,900-square-foot facility’s winding circulation path, paved with wood-patterned porcelain planks to complement the white oak on the walls and ceiling. Punctuating the trail are discovery zones: dog suites, a kitten nursery, a photo booth, and a shop selling pet collars and treats. Playrooms and consultation spaces, wrapped in sound-absorbing panels, give potential adopters one-on-one time with adoptees. Animal-specific areas remain resilient and cleanable, thanks to solid-surfacing and epoxy. Scattered across various surfaces, quirky quotations give frisky voice to the animals, while longer text conveys the organization’s objectives. Orange-flagged stations, equipped with tablet computers, are strategically placed to suggest practical ways of getting involved.

Best Friends Animal Society by Ra-Da in New York. Photography by Ralf Strathmann.

LED fixtures, programmed to mimic natural light, brighten in the morning and dim at night- fall. That keeps the pets’ circadian rhythm on track for the day when they find their new home.

Project Team: Catherine Wu; Shu Cai.

Best Friends Animal Society by Ra-Da in New York. Photography by Ralf Strathmann.

> See more from the December 2017 issue of Interior Design

> See all 2017 Best of Year winners and honorees

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