Faced with aging infrastructure, limited capital funding, and the need to utilize an abandoned granite quarry, the Town of Milton pursued modular delivery—the first use of this method for a municipal shelter in the region. It blends efficiency with thoughtful civic design to deliver a complex program—canine, feline, and small animal housing, quarantine and medical spaces, adoption rooms, and public-facing areas—within a clean, modern structure. The abandoned rock quarry site, adjacent to a residential neighborhood, required over 425 cubic yards of granite to be removed without blasting.
Each module was custom-built off site, with integrated HVAC, MEP, and fire protection systems, to reduce on-site labor and increase quality control. Dedicated ventilation zones and negative-pressure isolation rooms prevent cross-contamination between animal areas. Application-specific finishes—including seamless epoxy flooring, antimicrobial coatings, and durable casework—provide a functional yet approachable environment.
Sustainability was embedded throughout the project with reduced waste, energy-efficient systems, and low-VOC materials—delivering a facility optimized for animal care, energy performance, and resilience. A site-built Animal Control garage was integrated to maintain full operational functionality.
Axis Construction’s modular approach shortened the timeline by months through parallel site and factory work, reducing labor costs and avoiding weather delays. This project proves modular is not only faster—but fiscally smarter for complex civic needs.
PROJECT TYPE
Hybrid model: wood-frame modules attached to site-built garage
DESCRIPTION
Modular municipal animal shelter
OWNER
Town of Milton
ARCHITECT
Design-Build/Axis Construction
DELIVERY METHOD
Bid-Design-Build
CONSTRUCTION COST
$3.8 million
SIZE
4,000 sq. feet
Faced with aging infrastructure, limited capital funding, and the need to utilize an abandoned granite quarry, the Town of Milton pursued modular delivery—the first use of this method for a municipal shelter in the region. It blends efficiency with thoughtful civic design to deliver a complex program—canine, feline, and small animal housing, quarantine and medical spaces, adoption rooms, and public-facing areas—within a clean, modern structure. The abandoned rock quarry site, adjacent to a residential neighborhood, required over 425 cubic yards of granite to be removed without blasting.
Each module was custom-built off site, with integrated HVAC, MEP, and fire protection systems, to reduce on-site labor and increase quality control. Dedicated ventilation zones and negative-pressure isolation rooms prevent cross-contamination between animal areas. Application-specific finishes—including seamless epoxy flooring, antimicrobial coatings, and durable casework—provide a functional yet approachable environment.
Sustainability was embedded throughout the project with reduced waste, energy-efficient systems, and low-VOC materials—delivering a facility optimized for animal care, energy performance, and resilience. A site-built Animal Control garage was integrated to maintain full operational functionality.
Axis Construction’s modular approach shortened the timeline by months through parallel site and factory work, reducing labor costs and avoiding weather delays. This project proves modular is not only faster—but fiscally smarter for complex civic needs.
