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Ames council approves design, budget and bidding authorization for new Animal Services facility
Summary
Council approved exterior design concepts, schedule and budget direction for the new Ames Animal Services facility at 2715 Dayton Avenue and required base-bid provisions to allow future shade structures for outdoor dog runs; fundraising has raised about $4.5 million and construction bidding is planned for July–August 2026 with construction likely late 2026–spring 2027.
Council voted May 12 to approve the design concepts, schedule and budget direction for the new Ames Animal Services facility at 2715 Dayton Avenue and authorized staff to proceed with plans, specifications and bidding.
Consultants and staff presented a design that remodels the existing building and adds approximately 2,000 square feet of new space, separating dog adoption and intake areas from feline adoption spaces, and including treatment/surgery rooms, office suites and outdoor dog runs. Staff reported the fundraising team has secured roughly $4.5 million for the capital project. A design-development estimate showed the project under budget after value engineering; an additional $178,000 plus fees would be required to add direct doors to yards and rework yard areas — staff said donors have committed to cover that additional scope.
Project schedule steps: finish construction documents through June 2026, cost estimate at 75% CDs, bid in July–August 2026, and start construction in late summer 2026 with completion anticipated in spring 2027. Council approved the base design and additionally passed a motion requiring that the base bid include underground foundations/footings so shade structures could be added to outdoor dog runs later without major rework.
During the discussion council members asked about ventilation, durable finish materials and operations; design team representatives said the mechanical system is set up with multiple zones and exceeds typical minimum ventilation standards for animal-care facilities. Staff also confirmed the building will be solar-ready with wiring provisions for future ground-mounted solar and that interior finishes (epoxy floors, cove base, block walls in dog areas) were selected for durability and washdown operations.
Council and staff publicly thanked the donors and volunteers for the fundraising effort. Council directed staff to include the requested yard-door redesign as a change order and to return with bid-ready documents.
