It’s official: The APA will remodel the front end of its building beginning in early February.
Last week, the City of Brentwood cleared the way for the APA to begin a construction project that has been years in the making. Beginning on February 10, the front-end of the shelter will see walls demolished, new rooms built, and throughout the whole process, the shelter will remain open.
Visitors can expect to see several significant changes once construction is completed. Three new meet-and-greet rooms will accommodate adopters visiting with their potential new pets. The humane education department will begin offering classes in its own room. Pet owners experiencing the loss of a beloved friend will find solace in the new grieving room. The general layout of the front-end interior will shift to keep separate healthy dogs going on visits from stray dogs coming into the shelter or sick dogs entering the veterinary clinic.
The APA also plans to change the front facade from brick to glass and raise it by a story, a renovation that will help increase the visibility of the shelter. Since 1947, the APA has brought in stray and abandoned animals to its location on Hanley Road, and the current building was constructed in 1977 by prominent St. Louis businessman and philanthropist I.E. Millstone. Over the years, Brentwood businesses have sprouted up around the shelter, and taller buildings now dwarf the building on either side. By increasing the height and giving the shelter a storefront exterior, the APA plans to provide a warm, welcoming tone and increase foot traffic.
Construction is expected to take approximately 16 weeks and normal operations will continue throughout the project. The APA is located at 1705 S. Hanley Road and is open Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
