The cutting edge design, enhancements to animal welfare and the public interaction with the organisation, changing the community view of what an animal shelter and the RSPCA represent and ensuring long term environmental sustainability (especially around water usage and recycling) were all at the centre of the building and landscaping design.

The project called for master planning the entire facility at Burwood east and the construction of modern facilities covering every aspect of the organisation including animal quarantine, shelter and adoption centre, upgraded clinic, animal behavioural facilities, retail, grooming and cafe as well as facilities for the staff. A beautiful landscape environment also features in the project.

This innovative project has allowed the RSPCA to better serve the animals within their care by attracting more people to the site, promoting higher animal adoption rates and providing education to facilitate informed animal adoption choices.

3 Burwood Highway, Burwood East

RSPC Victoria

4,000 sqm

Bamford-Dash Architects

Buxton Construction

Rush Wight Associates Pty Ltd (Landscape Architects)

31/12/2013

Indoor environment quality

Central to the project design was the creation of a healthy and safe work environment for staff, great animal welfare outcomes and a positive and enriching environment and destination for the community. The building design, with its long, narrow footprint, allows for the use of natural light and airflow enhancing the comfort for both the animals and people using the centre.

Energy efficiency

The building features efficient heating and cooling facilities to reduce power consumption whilst maintaining a positive animal and human environment and complying with animal welfare codes of practice. This involves hi-efficiency mechanical systems including heat exchange technologies, precise zoning and automatic controlling and hi-efficiency units to minimise power consumption whilst maintaining operational requirements.

Water efficiency

Water usage and recycling was an important focus of the project’s design. The buildings features on-site black water recycling facilities, water capture and low use water fittings. The goal of the project was to recycle up to 80% of the water used in animal operations on site.

Urban ecology

Landscape design has been used to encourage activity in outdoor areas of the site. The familiarisation yards for instance have been designed to assist with matching adoption animals to owners in a “backyard” style environment featuring materials that an animal may encounter in a new home (timber, concrete, rock, grass).