Bronx Animal Care Center

Designed to promote coexistence among species, humans, and nature.

Marvel is proud to unveil the Bronx Animal Care Center, created in partnership with the NYC Department of Design and Construction. This innovative facility aims to serve as a good neighbor with dedicated spaces for animal adoption, enhanced care facilities, educational resources, and a community room for local residents to gather. The building is designed to harmonize with its environmentand encourage vibrant street life. Inspired by the local Split Rock at Pelham Bay Park, the center features a hard shell with a soft core. Outdoor spaces facilitate training and adoption events, while the unique shape maximizes natural light and minimizes solar heat gain, ensuring a sustainable and inviting community hub.

Exterior rendering looking at the public plaza from the new shared street looking northeast towards Bartow Ave. © Marvel
Exterior aerial rendering looking at the public plaza the northwest above Bartow Ave. looking northeast. © Marvel
The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.
Artistic plan reviewing organization of program, relationship of the hard shell and soft core, and site landscape design. © Marvel

The new 50,000-square-foot building will include an animal care center and veterinary clinic, public outpatient veterinary clinic, administrative offices, and community room. The animal care center and public veterinary medical facilities will be operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).

Context Site Plan, Neighborhood Level. © Marvel
At a neighborhood scale, major highways and roads define the boundaries of the triangular Bay Plaza Shopping Center: to the west is Interstate Highway 95, to the east is the Hutchinson River Parkway, and to the north is Bartow Ave, a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood for passenger cars, city buses, and delivery trucks. These roads disconnect the residential areas from the natural landscape of nearby Pelham Bay Park. A Con Edison plant northeast of the site further emphasizes this disconnect with fences preventing direct access to the waterfront. Within this context, the site provides an opportunity to become a bridge between the built environment and the natural landscape.

The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.

Artistic elevation renderings. © Marvel
Physical model of full building and site design. © Marvel
Exterior rendering looking at the north facade and facility entrance from Bartow Ave entrance looking south. © Marvel
Envisioned as a good neighbor, the facility promotes understanding and compassion among species while strengthening community bonds. A community room serves as a gathering space for local residents. Inspired by Pelham Bay Park’s Split Rock, the design reflects a refuge for people, animals, and nature, fostering harmony and connection within the community.

Designed to promote coexistence among species, humans, and nature.

Marvel is proud to unveil the Bronx Animal Care Center, created in partnership with the NYC Department of Design and Construction. This innovative facility aims to serve as a good neighbor with dedicated spaces for animal adoption, enhanced care facilities, educational resources, and a community room for local residents to gather. The building is designed to harmonize with its environmentand encourage vibrant street life. Inspired by the local Split Rock at Pelham Bay Park, the center features a hard shell with a soft core. Outdoor spaces facilitate training and adoption events, while the unique shape maximizes natural light and minimizes solar heat gain, ensuring a sustainable and inviting community hub.

1919 Bronx Animal Care 5 24 23 Renders N7 medium
The Animal Care facility draws inspiration from the local Split Rock on Pelham Bay Park, a place historically known for offering refuge to people, animals, and nature within its crevices and cracks. The central plaza, situated off the shared street, serves as the main entrance point for the community facility, shelter, and public veterinary clinic.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N52 medium
The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N48 medium

The new 50,000-square-foot building will include an animal care center and veterinary clinic, public outpatient veterinary clinic, administrative offices, and community room. The animal care center and public veterinary medical facilities will be operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).

1919 Bronx Animal Care N47 medium
At a neighborhood scale, major highways and roads define the boundaries of the triangular Bay Plaza Shopping Center: to the west is Interstate Highway 95, to the east is the Hutchinson River Parkway, and to the north is Bartow Ave, a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood for passenger cars, city buses, and delivery trucks. These roads disconnect the residential areas from the natural landscape of nearby Pelham Bay Park. A Con Edison plant northeast of the site further emphasizes this disconnect with fences preventing direct access to the waterfront. Within this context, the site provides an opportunity to become a bridge between the built environment and the natural landscape.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N49 medium

The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.

1919 Bronx Animal Care N50 medium
1919 Bronx Animal Care 5 24 23 Renders N9 medium
Envisioned as a good neighbor, the facility promotes understanding and compassion among species while strengthening community bonds. A community room serves as a gathering space for local residents. Inspired by Pelham Bay Park’s Split Rock, the design reflects a refuge for people, animals, and nature, fostering harmony and connection within the community.

Bronx Animal Care Center

Designed to promote coexistence among species, humans, and nature.

Marvel is proud to unveil the Bronx Animal Care Center, created in partnership with the NYC Department of Design and Construction. This innovative facility aims to serve as a good neighbor with dedicated spaces for animal adoption, enhanced care facilities, educational resources, and a community room for local residents to gather. The building is designed to harmonize with its environmentand encourage vibrant street life. Inspired by the local Split Rock at Pelham Bay Park, the center features a hard shell with a soft core. Outdoor spaces facilitate training and adoption events, while the unique shape maximizes natural light and minimizes solar heat gain, ensuring a sustainable and inviting community hub.

Exterior rendering looking at the public plaza from the new shared street looking northeast towards Bartow Ave. © Marvel
Exterior aerial rendering looking at the public plaza the northwest above Bartow Ave. looking northeast. © Marvel
The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.
Artistic plan reviewing organization of program, relationship of the hard shell and soft core, and site landscape design. © Marvel

The new 50,000-square-foot building will include an animal care center and veterinary clinic, public outpatient veterinary clinic, administrative offices, and community room. The animal care center and public veterinary medical facilities will be operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).

Context Site Plan, Neighborhood Level. © Marvel
At a neighborhood scale, major highways and roads define the boundaries of the triangular Bay Plaza Shopping Center: to the west is Interstate Highway 95, to the east is the Hutchinson River Parkway, and to the north is Bartow Ave, a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood for passenger cars, city buses, and delivery trucks. These roads disconnect the residential areas from the natural landscape of nearby Pelham Bay Park. A Con Edison plant northeast of the site further emphasizes this disconnect with fences preventing direct access to the waterfront. Within this context, the site provides an opportunity to become a bridge between the built environment and the natural landscape.

The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.

Artistic elevation renderings. © Marvel
Physical model of full building and site design. © Marvel
Exterior rendering looking at the north facade and facility entrance from Bartow Ave entrance looking south. © Marvel
Envisioned as a good neighbor, the facility promotes understanding and compassion among species while strengthening community bonds. A community room serves as a gathering space for local residents. Inspired by Pelham Bay Park’s Split Rock, the design reflects a refuge for people, animals, and nature, fostering harmony and connection within the community.

Designed to promote coexistence among species, humans, and nature.

Marvel is proud to unveil the Bronx Animal Care Center, created in partnership with the NYC Department of Design and Construction. This innovative facility aims to serve as a good neighbor with dedicated spaces for animal adoption, enhanced care facilities, educational resources, and a community room for local residents to gather. The building is designed to harmonize with its environmentand encourage vibrant street life. Inspired by the local Split Rock at Pelham Bay Park, the center features a hard shell with a soft core. Outdoor spaces facilitate training and adoption events, while the unique shape maximizes natural light and minimizes solar heat gain, ensuring a sustainable and inviting community hub.

1919 Bronx Animal Care 5 24 23 Renders N7 medium
The Animal Care facility draws inspiration from the local Split Rock on Pelham Bay Park, a place historically known for offering refuge to people, animals, and nature within its crevices and cracks. The central plaza, situated off the shared street, serves as the main entrance point for the community facility, shelter, and public veterinary clinic.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N52 medium
The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N48 medium

The new 50,000-square-foot building will include an animal care center and veterinary clinic, public outpatient veterinary clinic, administrative offices, and community room. The animal care center and public veterinary medical facilities will be operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).

1919 Bronx Animal Care N47 medium
At a neighborhood scale, major highways and roads define the boundaries of the triangular Bay Plaza Shopping Center: to the west is Interstate Highway 95, to the east is the Hutchinson River Parkway, and to the north is Bartow Ave, a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood for passenger cars, city buses, and delivery trucks. These roads disconnect the residential areas from the natural landscape of nearby Pelham Bay Park. A Con Edison plant northeast of the site further emphasizes this disconnect with fences preventing direct access to the waterfront. Within this context, the site provides an opportunity to become a bridge between the built environment and the natural landscape.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N49 medium

The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.

1919 Bronx Animal Care N50 medium
1919 Bronx Animal Care 5 24 23 Renders N9 medium
Envisioned as a good neighbor, the facility promotes understanding and compassion among species while strengthening community bonds. A community room serves as a gathering space for local residents. Inspired by Pelham Bay Park’s Split Rock, the design reflects a refuge for people, animals, and nature, fostering harmony and connection within the community.

Bronx Animal Care Center

Designed to promote coexistence among species, humans, and nature.

Marvel is proud to unveil the Bronx Animal Care Center, created in partnership with the NYC Department of Design and Construction. This innovative facility aims to serve as a good neighbor with dedicated spaces for animal adoption, enhanced care facilities, educational resources, and a community room for local residents to gather. The building is designed to harmonize with its environmentand encourage vibrant street life. Inspired by the local Split Rock at Pelham Bay Park, the center features a hard shell with a soft core. Outdoor spaces facilitate training and adoption events, while the unique shape maximizes natural light and minimizes solar heat gain, ensuring a sustainable and inviting community hub.

Exterior rendering looking at the public plaza from the new shared street looking northeast towards Bartow Ave. © Marvel
Exterior aerial rendering looking at the public plaza the northwest above Bartow Ave. looking northeast. © Marvel
The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.
Artistic plan reviewing organization of program, relationship of the hard shell and soft core, and site landscape design. © Marvel

The new 50,000-square-foot building will include an animal care center and veterinary clinic, public outpatient veterinary clinic, administrative offices, and community room. The animal care center and public veterinary medical facilities will be operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).

Context Site Plan, Neighborhood Level. © Marvel
At a neighborhood scale, major highways and roads define the boundaries of the triangular Bay Plaza Shopping Center: to the west is Interstate Highway 95, to the east is the Hutchinson River Parkway, and to the north is Bartow Ave, a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood for passenger cars, city buses, and delivery trucks. These roads disconnect the residential areas from the natural landscape of nearby Pelham Bay Park. A Con Edison plant northeast of the site further emphasizes this disconnect with fences preventing direct access to the waterfront. Within this context, the site provides an opportunity to become a bridge between the built environment and the natural landscape.

The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.

Artistic elevation renderings. © Marvel
Physical model of full building and site design. © Marvel
Exterior rendering looking at the north facade and facility entrance from Bartow Ave entrance looking south. © Marvel
Envisioned as a good neighbor, the facility promotes understanding and compassion among species while strengthening community bonds. A community room serves as a gathering space for local residents. Inspired by Pelham Bay Park’s Split Rock, the design reflects a refuge for people, animals, and nature, fostering harmony and connection within the community.

Designed to promote coexistence among species, humans, and nature.

Marvel is proud to unveil the Bronx Animal Care Center, created in partnership with the NYC Department of Design and Construction. This innovative facility aims to serve as a good neighbor with dedicated spaces for animal adoption, enhanced care facilities, educational resources, and a community room for local residents to gather. The building is designed to harmonize with its environmentand encourage vibrant street life. Inspired by the local Split Rock at Pelham Bay Park, the center features a hard shell with a soft core. Outdoor spaces facilitate training and adoption events, while the unique shape maximizes natural light and minimizes solar heat gain, ensuring a sustainable and inviting community hub.

1919 Bronx Animal Care 5 24 23 Renders N7 medium
The Animal Care facility draws inspiration from the local Split Rock on Pelham Bay Park, a place historically known for offering refuge to people, animals, and nature within its crevices and cracks. The central plaza, situated off the shared street, serves as the main entrance point for the community facility, shelter, and public veterinary clinic.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N52 medium
The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N48 medium

The new 50,000-square-foot building will include an animal care center and veterinary clinic, public outpatient veterinary clinic, administrative offices, and community room. The animal care center and public veterinary medical facilities will be operated by Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).

1919 Bronx Animal Care N47 medium
At a neighborhood scale, major highways and roads define the boundaries of the triangular Bay Plaza Shopping Center: to the west is Interstate Highway 95, to the east is the Hutchinson River Parkway, and to the north is Bartow Ave, a major thoroughfare in the neighborhood for passenger cars, city buses, and delivery trucks. These roads disconnect the residential areas from the natural landscape of nearby Pelham Bay Park. A Con Edison plant northeast of the site further emphasizes this disconnect with fences preventing direct access to the waterfront. Within this context, the site provides an opportunity to become a bridge between the built environment and the natural landscape.
1919 Bronx Animal Care N49 medium

The building’s design maximizes natural daylight and minimizes solar heat gain, informed by solar radiation and sun path studies. Its narrow, linear form features elongated east and west facades for optimal daylight. The southern two-story mass is reduced to allow sunlight into the courtyard, while shifting the southern half enhances sunlight exposure in the entry plaza.

1919 Bronx Animal Care N50 medium
1919 Bronx Animal Care 5 24 23 Renders N9 medium
Envisioned as a good neighbor, the facility promotes understanding and compassion among species while strengthening community bonds. A community room serves as a gathering space for local residents. Inspired by Pelham Bay Park’s Split Rock, the design reflects a refuge for people, animals, and nature, fostering harmony and connection within the community.

Location

Bronx, NY

Client

NYC Department of Design and Construction, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Animal Care Centers of NY

Typology

Size

50,000 SF (zoning lot area: 95,794 SF building area: 50,000 gross SF over 2 floors)

Design Team

Jonathan Marvel, Annya Rimirez, Yadiel Rivera, Esteban de Backer, Emilie Alongi, Rafael Ferrer, Justine Ala, Carolina Cohen Freue, Daniel Eizo, Sami Sikanas, Yang Zhao, Diego Varas

Consultants

Animal Care Specialist: ARQ Architects, Structural Engineer: Silman, Building Systems Engineer: WSP USA, Acoustical/IT/AV/SEC: Cerami Associates, Civil Engineer: MFS Consulting Engineers & Surveyor, DPC, Geotechnical/Environmental Engineer: Entech Engineering, Lighting Design: Tillotson Design, Sustainability Consultant: Atelier Ten, Envelope Consultant: Buro Happold, Vertical Circulation Consultant: VDA, Wayfinding/Graphics: Order Design, Cost Estimator: Ellana, Expeditor: JM Zoning, Accessibility: SWA