C.W. Driver Companies Completes $10M El Cajon Animal Shelter

C.W. Driver Companies, an AGC of California and San Diego Chapter member, recently announced the completion of the new 14,291-sq-ft El Cajon Animal Shelter in El Cajon, California. The single story, contemporary animal care facility is open to the public and will provide veterinary and pet adoption services to residents in El Cajon and La Mesa. 

Located at 1373 N. Marshall Avenue within walking distance of the former shelter, the animal care facility includes administrative offices, housing for animals, veterinary services for sick and injured animals, grooming, play and interaction areas, pet adoption services, an exercise area and more. 

"We enjoyed collaborating with the City of El Cajon to develop a much-anticipated multi-purpose animal care facility that will serve the region for generations to come," said Richard Freeark, chief operating officer at C.W. Driver Companies. "Our expertise in building state-of-the-art civic facilities allowed us to construct a center that will enhance the health, safety and well-being of animals in El Cajon and La Mesa."  

David Keltner, City of El Cajon project manager added, "The collaborative design process, where owner, architect and builder work closely together from concept to completion was very successful on this project despite the unique requirements and challenges that come along with a modern animal care facility with strict budget control."  

The animal care shelter is the City of El Cajon’s first collaborative design-build project and was funded by Proposition O special revenues. The half-cent sales tax increase was approved by El Cajon voters in November 2004 for improvements to public safety facilities and a new animal shelter. The new facility is double the size of the previous 50-year-old shelter, built in 1957, and is designed to enable future expansion. 

C.W. Driver Companies constructed the El Cajon Animal Shelter to meet Title 24 and Cal Green standards, including preferred parking for carpool and low-emitting vehicles, light-pollution and wastewater reduction, bicycle storage and more. 

Colorado-based Animal Arts and San Diego-based Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects worked alongside C.W. Driver Companies to design the project. In addition to Freeark, the firm’s project team included Andy Feth, project director; Eric Schultz, project manager; Will House, superintendent; Mark Hunter, BIM manager; Jym Varnadore, BIM manager; Cole Edging, senior project engineer and Karen Hudnall, senior project coordinator.

Along with El Cajon Animal Shelter, C.W. Driver Companies’ recently completed projects in the San Diego region include Fallbrook Library, Ramona Library and Alpine Library. Currently, it is under construction on the area’s Mission Hills-Hillcrest Library.

Associated General Contractors of America
2300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300
Arlington, VA, USA
Ph: 703-548-3118 Fax: 703-837-5402