GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND
SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA
GDB’s National Headquarters houses over 800 dogs per year. Their new 28,872 square feet facility provides dog care and dog training to become lifelong partners for individuals who are visually impaired. The first nine weeks of puppies' lives are critical to their chance of becoming successful guides. This new center is designed to improve the health, welfare, and socialization for GDB's puppies. In addition, the Puppy Center has a Learning Lab open to the public to help expand public awareness on GDB’s goals, provides interactive displays and viewing areas to be able to see frisky puppies live in-action.
This Puppy Center includes 8 whelping kennels (pregnant moms & birthing), 19 neonatal kennels (puppies from birth to 2 weeks old) and 30 puppy kennels where they stay until they reach 10 weeks of age. Each protected areas have dedicated gown-in facilities, medical support spaces, staff work areas, laundry, food preparations and restrooms. Just south of the facility’s entrance is a new courtyard and dog park which enables staff to exercise dogs and train them in real world outdoor settings.
I was involved in the design and construction documentation of this project.
GDB is a non-profit organization.
Professional photos by David Wakely