The total project budget includes:
- $525,000 for architectural and engineering services, including $14,900 for reimbursable expenses
- Nearly $400,000 in donations designated for furniture, fixtures and equipment
- $6,875,000 to cover construction fees and professional services contracts related to construction
City of Bryan Business Liaison and Special Projects Manager Frank Clark said design work is expected to begin in May, with construction management proposals anticipated within two months.
How we got here
Bryan has operated municipal animal services in its current facility along Finfeather Road since taking over operations from the county in 2011. The county animal center has since been known as the Aggieland Humane Society. The current facility was built in the early 1980s.
According to a feasibility study, the current building is undersized and forces multiple functions to share the same spaces, such as intake, treatment, quarantine and adoption. The study also addresses the shelter's:
- Sizing: The shelter is about 7,100 square feet and takes in roughly 1,300 animals each year. Limited separation between animals and visitors can increase stress for pets and create potential health and safety concerns, according to the study.
- Air conditioning: Dog housing areas are largely unconditioned, making air quality and disease control more difficult.
- Entrance issues: The site’s location and layout restrict visibility and limit separate entrances for staff and the public.
