Whiskers & Friends
Academic Project · Thesis · Animal Rescue, Veterinary & Community · 2025-2026
Home for Paws
An integrated animal rescue, veterinary, hospitality, office, education and community environment designed to support rehabilitation, adoption, and human-animal connection.
Project Type
Animal Welfare / Veterinary / Healthcare / Community Design / Office
Location
Long Island City, New York
Project Scale
48,000+ SQFT.
Focus Areas
Shelter Medicine (Veterinary)
Office - Work Space
Public Engagement
Hospitality Integration
Behavioral Rehabilitation
Sustainable Design
A Space Where Futures Can Change
Home for Paws reimagines the traditional animal shelter as an integrated environment for healing, community, and rehoming. Blending veterinary care, hospitality, education, and public engagement, the design transforms rescue into a visible, welcoming urban experience.
2nd Floor
1nd Floor
1nd Floor
Designing Beyond the Traditional Shelter
A multidisciplinary environment integrating rescue, veterinary care, hospitality, and community engagement.
Through warm materiality, wellness-driven planning, and intentional zoning, the design supports healing, interaction, and lasting human-animal connection.
Purpose-Driven Site Strategy
-
Astoria and LIC’s dense residential population, diverse demographics, and active community life create strong opportunities for adoption, outreach, volunteer involvement, and public engagement.
-
Strong access to transit, walkable streets, and bike networks supports convenient use by visitors, adopters, staff, veterinary clients, and rescue operations.
-
Nearby parks, waterfront access, and green spaces provide opportunities for enrichment, rehabilitation, community activities, and a calmer environment for animals and visitors.
-
Located within active commercial and neighborhood corridors, the site increases public exposure, community interaction, and awareness for adoption, education, and veterinary services.
-
The existing large-scale warehouse provides the flexibility and spatial capacity needed to support veterinary care, shelter operations, hospitality, education, and administration within one integrated facility.
-
The site supports the project’s goal of embedding animal welfare into everyday urban life by placing rescue, care, and adoption within an active, accessible community setting.
