2002, Alamo Architects. 4804 Fredericksburg Rd.
Designed as the center for animal care issues and adoption in the city, this building does away with the old image of a prisonlike facility for housing abandoned pets. Here, the complex is oriented around a landscaped central space where adoptive families can meet and play with prospective pets. The glass and limestone entrance pavilion with large overhanging roofs and vine-covered trellises welcomes the public and provides shelter from the elements. The pets are housed in tile-walled, room-sized enclosures visible through glass walls and are attached to play yards. This is an example of architecture serving the public good with sense and taste.