Prairie Paws Adoption Center, Grand Prairie, Texas
This state of the art facility features a number of unexpected creative elements unusual for shelter design. The facility is built around an entry courtyard that provides a pleasant space for community events and visitors. Deep roof overhangs provide plenty of shade from the hot Texas sun while natural xeriscaping with a bubbling water feature creates a pleasant, low-maintenance landscape. A rainwater collection system harvests rainwater from the roof into a cistern, which in turn provides water to irrigate the entire site, reducing utility expenses for the facility.