The shelter is an art gallery
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1994:
OAKLAND, California– –
Joining a national trend toward airy,
attractive buildings intended to compete
for traffic with shopping mall pet shops,
the Oakland SPCA on March 22
unveiled an extensively remodeled shel-
ter and the PeopleSoft Adoption and
Education Center, named for the
Walnut Creek software firm that provid-
ed $500,000 of the $1.9 million cost.
“The facility contains a central
atrium-style public area featuring adop-
tion areas for dogs and cats, educational
displays by exhibit designer Jane
Glickman, classrooms, an extensive
resource library, and original art works
by famed designer Laurel Burch depict-
ing the special relationships possible
between people and animals,” said
spokesperson Beverly Scottland.
“Architect George Miers based his
design on interactive environments such
as San Francisco’s Exploratorium and
the Discovery Museum.”
Added executive director Gary
Templin, “Our goal is to increase adop-
tions of cats and dogs. We’re hoping
that the new Oakland SPCA will draw
more visitors because of the user-friend-
ly atmosphere. We’ve attempted to
replace the cliche of the stark, drab,
depressing animal shelter with a fun
environment,” which will appeal to
families with children.
Glickman’s six-foot-tall dis-
play panels feature quotes from Albert
Schweitzer, Mark Twain, Robert Louis
Stevenson, Martin Luther King Jr., Leo
Tolstoy, and others, as well as giving
information about pets. Burch, who
served on the capital campaign commit-
tee, contributed paintings and murals.
The renovation also included
improvements to the in-house veterinary
clinic, now open six days a week. The
clinic neuters approximately 175 ani-
mals per month.
Founded in 1874, the Oakland
SPCA has occupied its present site near
the city airport since 1957. It is support-
ed entirely by private donations.
