Acoustic Design Elevates Canine Care Centre

Designing with purpose and acoustic comfort

To the north, pavilion buildings open to the public host training areas, rehoming services, and conference facilities. These structures are connected by a piazza that encourages interaction and creates a clear pedestrian link across the site. In contrast, working buildings are kept private, dedicated to training and rehabilitation, ensuring dogs receive focused support away from public spaces.

The main reception building forms the heart of the campus, containing kennels, education zones, a veterinary wing, and rooms for meetings and conferences. A Stray Reclaim building is also part of the project, providing facilities to reunite lost dogs with their owners. Inside, the Dogs Trust’s signature yellow identity appears on feature walls, while other interiors and exteriors stay restrained in whites, greys, and minimal materials.

Powell Dobson’s vision included cost-conscious decisions that preserved design quality. “Because the Dogs Trust is a charity, we were mindful that, while creating contemporary and exciting architecture and interiors, neither should appear as if money had been lavished on them. After all, the dogs should always be the priority in terms of funding allocation”, says architect Oliver Henshall.

At the core of the interior performance are ultra-white Rockfon Eclipse frameless floating ceiling islands in the 2360x1160mm size suspended by wires. The panels feature anti-dust properties to extend product lifespan and absorb sound on both sides, reducing reverberation. "We liked the idea of leaving the services exposed, dressing internals with just the essentials," adds Oliver Henshall.