New Construction for an Animal Sanctuary
Pasado’s Safe Haven
New facilities for a beloved animal sanctuary will help ensure this non-profit can continue doing their best work.
Pasado’s Safe Haven is a non-profit dedicated to providing lifelong sanctuary to animals that have been subject to abuse and neglect. Their growing compound was in need of changes that could enrich the lives of their animals and provide employees with upgraded resources. With a beautiful, quiet piece of land to build on, we helped create new homes for barnyard and household companions, along with offices, support spaces, and on-site lodging for their caretakers.
To tackle the complex and intersectional needs between the animals and employees, we formed an integrated design team at the beginning of the project. The perspective of the Pasado’s staff was essential to tailoring the design to balance their unique needs, and it was the close collaboration between the design team and Pasado’s that made this project a reality. We led a conceptual design workshop for the staff to gain insight into the design process, and so they could be directly involved in shaping ideas for the final product.
Program spaces include a new Cow Barn, Dog Towne, and Kitty City for the animal residents where students, volunteers, and supporters can learn about animal rehabilitation.
3x2-pasados_safe_haven-cow_barn-aerial_2
Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
3x2-pasados_safe_haven-cow_barn-aerial_2
Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Sun Exposure
The cow barn is designed to take full advantage of its solar exposure, with large windows under the gables and a solar-ready roof for a future panel array. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Sun Exposure
The cow barn is designed to take full advantage of its solar exposure, with large windows under the gables and a solar-ready roof for a future panel array. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Traffic Control
To help keep order, the cows are corralled by a gate system that allows staff and volunteers to customize the areas where the cows rest and eat. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Traffic Control
To help keep order, the cows are corralled by a gate system that allows staff and volunteers to customize the areas where the cows rest and eat. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
The Cow Barn required careful consideration to both meet the needs of the animals and take advantage of the opportunities of the site. In addition to working closely with a permaculture expert to layout the adjacent pasture required for the cows, the barn was sited specifically for sun exposure to ready it for a future solar array.
Polycarbonate windows at the gables provide a bright interior. And inside, cows are cared for with a custom gate system that gives Pasado’s staff and volunteers complete control over how the barn is used. Rolling brushes inside offer the cow residents access to grooming and opportunities for enrichment.
Quiet Corner
Off a quiet path, Dog Towne provides a restful retreat for rescued dogs as they are rehabilitated. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Quiet Corner
Off a quiet path, Dog Towne provides a restful retreat for rescued dogs as they are rehabilitated. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Space to Play
Each shelter has a small, private outdoor area, with dog-height windows offering a peek out. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Space to Play
Each shelter has a small, private outdoor area, with dog-height windows offering a peek out. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Dog Towne is a facility dedicated to providing a calm, long-term living environment for rescue dogs, many of whom are victims of cruelty and neglect. The project provides a space to help these dogs heal from their physical and emotional wounds in order to become eligible for adoption.
The old Dog Towne was a series of cabins located along a busy road — serviceable, but not ideal for the calm refuge Pasado’s Safe Haven envisioned. The new Dog Towne is off the main road with no shared fence lines for a quieter experience.
New accommodations and a one-way walking trail offer enrichment and safety, allowing play to be a bigger part of the dogs’ recovery. Best of all, the new facility increases Pasado’s capacity by 30%-40%, helping them to widen their mission.
Custom Catios
Catios provide outdoor space for the cats at Pasado’s to enjoy the exterior environment while keeping them safe and protected from the elements. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Custom Catios
Catios provide outdoor space for the cats at Pasado’s to enjoy the exterior environment while keeping them safe and protected from the elements. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Sun Spot
Built into the hillside, Kitty City is well situated for sun exposure — perfect for a future solar array and for all the sun-spot-loving cats. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Sun Spot
Built into the hillside, Kitty City is well situated for sun exposure — perfect for a future solar array and for all the sun-spot-loving cats. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Cat Heaven
Inside Kitty City is a wonderland of cat-friendly spaces, including lots of places for the cats to roam, climb, and socialize. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Cat Heaven
Inside Kitty City is a wonderland of cat-friendly spaces, including lots of places for the cats to roam, climb, and socialize. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Kitty City at Pasado’s Safe Haven is a special place designed with cats in mind. The goal was to develop a space that would facilitate healing and move the cat residents toward adoptability, readying them to be welcomed into their forever homes.
The design utilizes every opportunity to create a fun and enriching environment for the cats. Porthole windows encourage play and provide cat-sized access between the facility’s spaces. These playful details help the cats with socialization and to heal from the trauma they’ve survived.
A topographically constrained site led us to dig into the hillside to make space for the facility and created opportunity for a high-efficiency solar array on the roof.
4x5-pasados_safe_haven-kitty_city-view_2
Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Several catios provide safe spaces for the cats to access fresh air and help to bring natural daylight into the space.
It was imperative to the health and happiness of the animals that the integrity of the land remained intact; so, low-impact site development was a high priority throughout the animal spaces. Net zero water and energy strategies are being explored for many program areas, and healthy, local materials are specified in spaces for rescue animals and their human helpers alike.
With new and refreshed, safe spaces they can call home, the rescued animals are well-situated to heal and thrive, and their caretakers have ample resources to provide top-notch care.
The Quack Shack
Pasado’s Safe Haven is home to many animals, including ducks, who have their own special place to reside, aptly called the Quack Shack. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
The Quack Shack
Pasado’s Safe Haven is home to many animals, including ducks, who have their own special place to reside, aptly called the Quack Shack. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Support Spaces
With many deserving animals to care for, additional barn structures at Pasado’s provide additional support space to serve their mission. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Support Spaces
With many deserving animals to care for, additional barn structures at Pasado’s provide additional support space to serve their mission. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
A Restorative Environment
Pasado’s Safe Haven’s facilities provide a profoundly restorative and restful space for both humans and animals alike. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
A Restorative Environment
Pasado’s Safe Haven’s facilities provide a profoundly restorative and restful space for both humans and animals alike. Pasado’s Safe Haven | Photo by Meghan Montgomery.
Notes & Credits
Architecture by Board & Vellum.
Cow Barn built by Barn Pros Construction.
Dog Towne built by Alegis Construction.
Kitty City built by Ryan GC.
Structural Engineering by Swenson Say Fagét.
Civil Engineering by Herrera Environmental Consultants.
Permaculture & Landscape Design by NW Bloom Ecological Services.
Animal Care & Systems Consulting by Sit & Paws Animal Care.
Owner’s Rep Project Managers: Keith LaChappelle of FreeTerra Projects, Chris Rogers of Point 32, and Mike Weller of Merganser PM.
Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Enough is enough.
Learn more about Pasado’s Safe Haven and their efforts to kiss animal cruelty goodbye.
Visit Pasado’s Safe Haven to learn more about their mission to help animals in need with a comprehensive approach: Investigations & Rescue, Sanctuary, Pet Services, and Education & Advocacy.
The B&V Team visited Pasado’s for a day of volunteering to get to know the team and meet the animals as we continue our work designing new spaces to support their work — we highly recommend giving them a visit!
If you’d like to help, there are many ways to give, and many ways to get involved to support their lifesaving work.
Want to learn more?
You’re welcome to take a look at our available services and other portfolio projects.
Services
Our design services encompass architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, with teams specializing in projects across the spectrum, from single-family homes to multifamily and mixed-use buildings, and from boutique commercial spaces to civic spaces, like parks. We love designing the integrated fabric of structures, spaces, and places that create vibrant neighborhoods.
Considering a project, or curious about something?
Say hello, and send us your questions via the form below. We’re always pleased to make new connections, and eager to get to know you, your project, and your goals.