Durham is finally getting a new animal shelter. What's in it, and how long it will take?

Durham County took a big first step Monday night to address the deteriorating conditions of the local animal shelter.

In a unanimous vote, the Board of Commissioners approved a $5.6 million contract with Durham’s RND Architects to begin designing a new shelter on county-owned land at 1117 Junction Road.

For years, crowding at the East Club Boulevard shelter has stretched resources thin, while persistent HVAC issues, disease outbreaks and limited space have created an environment that is less than ideal for staff, visitors and animals in the shelter’s care.

During Monday’s public comment period, Lisa Cole, a Durham resident and animal advocate, pleaded with the commissioners to approve the “hard work and planning that is being brought to you.”

“We all were shocked and overwhelmed as we had an up-close look at the condition of this very old shelter,” Cole said. “This is too important for all of our community ... This is what we must do to care for the many animals who are hurting, who are in need, who are lost, who are scared, who are indeed counting on us to do the right thing for them as well.”

A shelter built for 131 dogs and 132 cats

The new facility is projected to cost about $55 million and is slated for completion in 2030.

It will span 37,250 square feet indoors and about 6,700 square feet of covered outside areas. It will house 131 dogs and 132 cats, with separate wings for dogs, cats and small animals.

Unlike the current building, which was built in the 1970s, the Junction Road location will have a dedicated medical clinic, a separate warehouse for stoiring food and supplies, and even a barn and paddock for surrendered large animals.

To alleviate the stress of surrenders and adoptions, the layout includes separate entrances for each process, with private rooms where families can meet prospective pets or say difficult goodbyes.

Charles Nickelson, a representative with RND Architects said the original layout designed in 2019 for the new shelter was much larger. To reduce the cost of the shelter, the square footage was reduced.

“Animal care changed drastically through the pandemic as we saw a big switch,” he told the commissioners. “All these dogs [were] being adopted during the pandemic, and then once people went back to work, they dropped their dogs off [at the shelter] again, and they picked up a cat ... so we revised the numbers to reflect that.”

Commissioner Wendy Jacobs said she was “very excited to see us appropriating funding for the design of the animal shelter.”

However, she noted that the large project will take time and wanted to ensure the building was built to last as Durham adds people and pets over the next several decades. By 2030, Durham’s population is expected to grow by 30,000 people, according to the state Office of State Budget and Management.

Nicholson said the new shelter will be built to have a 50-year lifespan, like other county projects. The building will also be designed so that it can be expanded, if needed.

With the design contract officially in place, Durham County is one step closer to opening the new shelter.

Specialized features in the new facility

The contract with RND incorporates specialized engineering and green building designs to achieve LEED Gold certification, an internationally recognized green building certification.

The specialized features will also address the poor climate control and veterinary resources:

• The on-site hospital will have plumbing and medical gas infrastructure to support veterinary surgeries
• Acoustical noise control that will improve stress levels for animals, staff and visitors
• Audiovisual and telecom networks
• A back-up generator and public safety radio for emergencies and first-responder communication
• Roof ventilation, insulation and strategic drainage systems to prevent mold and airflow issues
• $400,000 for public art installations in the shelter’s public-facing spaces

Kristen Johnson

The News & Observer

919-829-4532

Kristen Johnson is a local government reporter covering Durham for The News & Observer. She previously covered Cary and western Wake County. Prior to coming home to the Triangle, she reported for The Fayetteville Observer and spent time covering politics and culture in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of UNC at Charlotte and American University.