GATES Construction has completed the new Glass Animal Hospital and Smith Animal Commissary at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The 1-story, 9,144 SF building was completely funded through the support of lead donors Tanya and Denny Glass, Vickie and David Smith and many other generous donors. The hospital features a full surgical suite, hospitalization and treatment rooms, hospitalization holding areas, diagnostic lab, necropsy examination room, pharmacy, commissary, and administrative rooms.
Animal welfare is one of Naples Zoo’s highest priorities and the Glass Animal Hospital and Smith Animal Commissary will ensure the very best care possible for Naples Zoo’s growing animal collection. The $4.4 million animal hospital will fully address the Zoo’s veterinary needs and provide space to potentially care for injured or abandoned Florida panthers in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The hospital will also be utilized for shelter for over 100 animals in the event of a hurricane.
The former animal care facility for the Zoo’s veterinary team was a 10-foot by 15-foot metal shed, affectionately called the “vet shed.” Continuing to be a great zoo, and maintaining accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), required a major enhancement to the animal care facilities and healthcare environment. Providing the very best animal care possible and continuing to maintain accreditation by the AZA, necessitated the design and development of the new hospital and commissary.
Design services were provided by Architects Unlimited.