First Impressions
The building entrance, lobby, and welcoming areas should be warm, spacious, light and airy. The spaces of this crucial entry sequence must also feature easily cleaned flooring, given that both incoming and adopted pets will be passing through them. A higher ceiling with clerestory windows is a great way to create a lobby that feels spacious and light-filled. Sometimes, sky lighting can create a similar effect when taller ceilings are either too costly or otherwise impractical.
The sun-filled lobby of the Rockingham / Harrisonburg SPCA creates a welcoming atmosphere for adoptions.
Non-skid ceramic tile floors are an excellent choice for the entry flooring and even into the public corridors that lead to animal display areas and kennels. The brighter and warmer the impression on visitors, the more likely the space is to encourage adoption. Thoughtful use of colors and finishes, along with well-designed lighting, are hallmarks of every successful shelter.
Puppy rooms and cat housing should be visible through large expanses of glass for easy viewing while traversing the public corridors. This display encourages adoption and gives visitors a positive experience as moving through the facility. Lighting is again key in this section
Public access beyond these spaces is usually confined to the adoption kennel area, where healthy dogs are on display. The light and airy design standards should apply here also, encouraging comfortable interaction between visitors and potential adoptees.