Friends For Life
Houston, Texas
It’s not often that design is a matter of life or death, but for a no-kill animal shelter, humane space design is essential to the provision of its services. By maximizing the usable square footage in an efficient plan, designers have enabled the shelter to accommodate and care for more animals. The facility is the first LEED®-certified shelter in Houston and one of only a handful in the nation. Housed in a repurposed warehouse, the new shelter facilitates positive interactions among animals, humans and the environment. The building is comfortable and restorative, incorporating such features as a highly efficient HVAC system, effective acoustics, in-wall vacuum system and light-filled interiors.