The existing Animal Shelter is a 2,746 GSF single story building located on the Public Works campus. The existing building was opened in 2008 and is no longer large enough to manage the expanding animal population that is being handled by the City. In 2016, the City contracted with PGAL Architects and Animal Arts to conduct a study to evaluate the expansion and space requirements. In 2019, PGAL and Animal Services developed a preliminary design for the new proposed Animal Shelter building to be located at the existing City of Sugar Land Public Safety Campus. This report updated the concept floor plan and provided renderings to be used in the 2019 GO Bond. PGAL and Animal Arts have continued to provide project specific information as we moved past COVID, addressed inflation, and reevaluated information and estimates for the 2024 GO Bond.
To identify an optimal site for the development of a new animal shelter, PGAL was engaged in May 2024 to perform an analysis of nine potential locations within the City. The scope of the analysis encompassed five municipally owned sites, namely the PD Campus, Public Works north property, Oyster Creek Park, Eldridge Park, and Imperial Park, as well as four commercially held properties: 24 Hour Fitness, 655 Industrial, 3559 Highway 6, and IPRC. The design team evaluated several aspects of each site to determine which site would be the best location for the new facility. These aspects include: visibility to the public, adjacency to other amenities, recreational infrastructure, existing site utilities, overall access to the site and sound concerns. After evaluating all of the locations, the decision was made to move forward with the Imperial Park location. Imperial Park offers the best options out of the other locations. These benefits include: access to a major roadway, visibility, ability to advertise along the highway, existing parking area, no issues with sound and nearby residences, easy access for park visitors to visit the facility, trails/bike paths/creek provide a complimentary setting - good for walking the pets and adoption events.
The Needs Assessment updated in 2024 prepared a program and concept design for the new facility. The Needs Assessment projected a capacity to handle 83 dogs and 104 cats. The Needs Assessment defined a building size of approximately 23,000 square feet to meet these requirements.
The Engineering Department has followed the City's Policy Number PU-109 concerning the selection of professional services and for continuity will maintain the services PGAL and Animal Arts for the project design, bid process, construction administration and close-out. PGAL Architects is working with Animal Arts, a recognized leader nationally in the design of animal shelters, assisted dog care and training campuses, veterinary teaching hospitals, boarding/daycare, veterinary clinics and equine and large animal hospitals. Together, PGAL and Animal Arts have been working with the City since 2016. PGAL's proposal is developed through a level of effort approach with a fee not to exceed the amount of $1,310,000. These costs include:
Schematic Design: $172,500.00
Design Development: $230,000.00
Construction Documents: $460,000.00
Bid/Permitting: $57,500.00
Construction Administration: $230,000.00
Subtotal $1,150,000.00
Reimbursable Costs: $60,000.00 (Mileage, travel, plotting/printing, ADA, misc.)
Additional Services
Alta Survey $15,000.00
Geotechical Report $15,000.00
FFE Design $30,000.00
20 Onsite Parking Spaces $40,000.00
Overall Total $1,310,000.00
The construction budget is programmed at approximately $18,000,000.00. Funding for the new Animal Shelter building design and construction was approved in both the 2019 GO Bond, Proposition D and 2024 GO Bond, Proposition E, Animal Shelter, CIP MU1908, with an available design budget of $2,550,000.00. The design is anticipated to be completed towards the end of 2025. The project construction delivery system will utilize the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Resolution No. 25-06, as previously approved by Council on March 4, 2025.
The Engineering and Animal Services Department recommend the City Council approve a Professional Architectural Design Services contract with PGAL, Inc. for the design services of the Animal Shelter, CIP MU1908, in the amount of $1,310,000.00.