1. Why should I hire an architect who is an animal facility design specialist?

Hiring a specialist will save you time and money in the short term, because you won't have to spend weeks and months going around in circles trying to develop an effective floor plan. In the long run, a specialist knows how to design a facility to maximize staff effectiveness and minimize upkeep.
At Animal Arts Design, we understand how your facility needs to operate to be most efficient. We can help you select durable and cost-effective floor, wall, and ceiling materials. We will specify heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems that minimize odor, control disease, and are energy efficient. We will detail building walls, systems, and assemblies to control noise.

2. How do I hire an architect?

Hiring the right architect can make all the difference. Here are some things to look for: Experience in designing animal care facilities. How many facilities have they designed? To design an animal care facility well, your architect has to understand your needs. The best way for an architect to demonstrate that he or she knows and understands these issues is to have a significant body of work to show.
Can the architect get the job done? Is the architect you select backed by an office of professionals that have the capacity and ability to produce the drawings for your project and assist in monitoring the construction? You probably don't want a "one man band" office, nor do you want a large firm where the person you initially talk to will hand you off to somebody else. What you do want is a firm where your architect will stay integrally involved in your project and has the support of a technical staff to assist with follow-through.
But beyond experience and ability, probably the most important thing is: Do you like the person? Is he or she a "straight shooter?" Are his or her priorities aligned with yours? Spend time talking with several different architects. Talk to their previous clients and others who know them. Ask for a proposal or a sample contract for your review. Only when you have had the time and "space" to carefully consider this decision should you move forward with hiring an architect to work for you to create the facility you envision.

3. Should I do "design-build"?

It can be easier and faster to give up a good deal of your control in a project and let someone have the task of both designing and then building your project. There are fewer questions and fewer decisions required of you when the architect is also the contractor. But where are the checks and balances for you? For example, if the design-build firm makes his decisions based solely on the cost structure that will benefit him, you have given up the control you need.
At Animal Arts Design, we believe your project will be more successful if we inform you of the choices that need to be made and work with you to set priorities and budgets. We believe that our clients are happier when they are active participants.

4. How do you work long-distance?

During the past 25 years, we have designed over 600 animal care facilities in 40 states, Canada, Australia, and Japan. With only 31 of these projects in our own backyard of the Colorado front range, we have had to develop systems to streamline the design and construction process. Our satisfied clients are the proof that these systems work.

Read more about how we work long distance.