A Bridge To Community: San Antonio Humane Society Education Center.

Animal Care, Architecture, Civic

The San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS) campus was envisioned as a warm, accessible and welcoming center for pet adoption. The Phase 1 Adoption Center and Clinic ushered in an era of phenomenal growth for the SAHS, followed by Phase 2, the Leeu Naylor Medical Building, which expanded the organization’s impact through spay/neuter services. Now in design, the proposed Phase 3 Education Center will complete the decades-long development of this exceptional center for animal advocacy by creating a bridge to community.

Alamo Architects’ commitment to the SAHS has been truly meaningful. We believe the campus has made a real difference – not just for the community, but for the dogs and cats in our care – demonstrating how thoughtful design can create a space that nurtures both animals and the people who care for them.

Nancy F. May
President and CEO, San Antonio Humane Society

Situated within the SAHS campus, the proposed Education Center marks the third, completion phase of the campus development. This project embodies a seamless blend of functionality, adaptability, and a deep connection to the existing architectural language while introducing new spatial experiences to enrich the campus environment. At its core, the design is shaped by an existing linear pedestrian walkway, the central spine that unifies all three phases of the campus – informing the building’s organization and enhancing connectivity and cohesion between earlier and present phases of development.

Maximizing Function and Flexibility

The programming of the proposed Education Center prioritizes flexibility for educational outreach, community engagement, and fundraising events. A multi-purpose space, capable of being divided into three distinct areas, serves as the heart of the building. Complementing this are two classrooms, office spaces, and a break room, all designed with efficiency and adaptability in mind. 4,500 SF of outdoor courtyards provide vibrant spaces for events, informal gatherings, and moments of pause.

Continuity in Landform and Design Language

The proposed Education Center’s design language and material palette draw on Phase 1 and Phase 2 campus structures, reinforcing local reference with stucco and standing-seam metal. Making it unique on the campus, the building is joined by terraced courtyards with distinctive and defining shade structures – adding contemporary drama and practical functionality in the same stroke. The courtyards step down, elegantly resolving the 8-foot drop in grade from the west to east at this end of the site. The filigree of steel tube trellis, fitted with a center of retractable Roman shades, provides dappled sunlight and shade – a perfect setting for fundraising parties under the stars. Below the shade structures, expansive windows filter natural light into the interior of the building, adding an essential visual connection to the outdoors.

Greater Than the Sum of its Parts

Two and a half decades in the making, the SAHS campus will soon be complete, and we have the honor of saying that we were there to design it all. Each development phase has contributed to the success of the SAHS mission, becoming a true hub for compassionate animal care in San Antonio. We believe the outcome shows the strength of our ideas, and the amazing trust of our SAHS clients.