DDC and Animal Care Centers

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DDC and Animal Care Centers

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is a New York-based non-profit working to ensure that stray and surrendered pets have access to food, shelter, and medical care as they wait to find a loving home. The City is committed to helping ACC meet that challenge, aiming to construct and maintain a full-service shelter in each of the five boroughs.

DDC is proud of the work we do to help the city reach its goal and protect our beloved pets. On behalf of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), DDC manages construction projects for ACC as they look to expand the number of animals they can house and improve the services they provide.

Below you can find Animal Care Center of NYC projects that DDC has either completed or is actively managing.

Staten Island Animal Care Center

DDC managed a $9.3 million project to replace an aging Animal Care Center in Staten Island. The new Animal Care Center, which first opened its doors in October of 2022, can provide shelter to 50 cats and 15 dogs with additional room for smaller animals.

The Staten Island Animal Care Center features medical facilities, and two large dog runs to help keep pets healthy and exercised. The building, which was designed by Garrison Architects, includes administrative offices and a reception area to help ACC manage their pets, volunteers, and visitors. The project earned LEED Silver Certification for environmental sustainability after installing brand new electrical and plumbing systems.

The lobby of the Care Center features a dedication to the late Tommy Monahan, a boy from Staten Island who passed away while trying to save his pets from a house fire. At the Care Center’s opening, DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley stated, “We’re very pleased to be able to dedicate the new shelter to Tommy Monahan, who dedicated his brief time with us to caring for animals however he could.”

Manhattan Pet Adoption Center

In October of 2024, DDC announced the completion of a Pet Adoption Center located in East Harlem. The $6.33 million project repurposed a 2,500-square-foot garage to serve as a key resource for the ACC in their effort to showcase pets and facilitate faster adoptions.

The Manhattan Pet Adoption Center includes a colorful exterior along with new roofing and skylights to improve natural lighting in the building. New flooring within the building features additional drainage to help prevent flooding. Glass was installed in the kennel area to ensure that prospective adopters can see and interact with pets staying in the center.

The design of the project was completed under DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence Program, which allows DDC to procure work from pre-qualified firms quickly while maintaining high standards of performance. Designed by Studio Joseph, the Animal Care Center has earned an Annual Award for Excellence in Design from the NYC Public Design Commission.

Bronx Animal Care Center

In May of 2023 DDC broke ground on a brand new $92 million Animal Care Center in Baychester. The new building, which is anticipated to open in Spring of 2025, will have space to house 70 dogs, 140 cats, 30 rabbits, and up to 20 additional animals.

This project is an important step towards the City’s goal of building and maintaining Care Centers in each of the five boroughs. Adding a Care Center in the Bronx will reduce overcrowding in other ACC-operated buildings, reduce stressful travel time for stray animals, and provide residents in the Bronx with better access to quality healthcare for their pets.

The 50,000-square-foot Bronx Care Center was designed by the firm Marvel under DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence Program. The design features specialized animal housing pods which will provide caretakers with more flexibility as well as additional space reserved for community use.

Brooklyn Animal Care Center

DDC is managing the effort to replace the old Brooklyn Animal Shelter with a newer building that can offer state-of-the-art animal care and necessary administrative offices. The building will prioritize sustainability through solar panels, permeable pavers, and high efficiency lighting.

The new Brooklyn Animal Care Center, which was designed by Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects, will be able to provide lifesaving care to pets in need thanks to a brand-new medical suite. Additionally, an outdoor dog run on the second floor will help pets staying in the Care Center receive critical enrichment and exercise as they wait to be placed into homes.

As a part of the Percent for Art program, the Brooklyn Care Center will feature vibrant artwork depicting animals such as dogs, cats, and rabbits. This artwork, created by Olalekan Jeyifous, will liven up the Care Center and be easily visible to passing pedestrians and drivers.