Landmark Humane Society Facility Completed
Skanska USA Press Release – July 6, 2007
BEAVERTON, Ore., July 2007 – Skanska USA Building Inc. announced today that it will soon hand the Oregon Humane Society its keys to a new Animal Medical and Learning Center, the first veterinary teaching hospital in the nation to be connected to and provide 24-hour medical care at an animal shelter. The $6.4 million, two-story, 22,000-square-foot veterinary teaching hospital will operate in tandem with the Oregon Humane Society shelter in addition to providing space for an animal behavior program and the nation’s first training academy for animal-assisted therapy animals.
“The new building is unlike anything the Oregon Humane Society has had before,” said Skanska’s Senior Project Manager Scott Work. “We are very pleased to be part of such a landmark facility that will provide care for those animals that need it most.”
The new facility is more than just a teaching hospital. The building’s first floor houses the veterinary teaching hospital and learning center while the second floor consists of shelter offices and student support space including three double dormitory rooms. The unique combination of services housed under the same roof will allow for better care of shelter animals and provide a new learning environment for both Oregon State University’s Oregon Humane Society faculty and medical students.
“This building is absolutely amazing and is truly the first of its kind in the nation,” said Sharon Harmon, Oregon Humane Society Executive Director. “This is an opportunity to make history happen in the world of animal welfare by providing the animals with the critical care they need when they need it the most. The partnership with the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine will help care for the pets while providing a first-class experience for veterinary students. Graduate veterinarians will have a rock-solid foundation in clinical experience to grow from when they begin caring for pets in the future.”
The facility has remained operational for the duration of construction. Due to the combined efforts of Ankrom Moisan, the architects for the project, and Skanska crews, the Oregon Humane Society will have a shelter ready to treat all types of emergencies. The project is scheduled to be completed on August 30, 2007.