The San Jose Animal Care Center project consists of three projects located in the portico at the front of the building. A 104 foot long aluminum frieze is located atop the portico entrance, sweeping across the building in a long arc. The frieze depicts animals at play. The “lines” of the drawings are cut outs in the aluminum that are lighted from behind at night. In front of the building on either side of the entrance are two sentinels, a dog and a cat that sit atop concrete bases that are models of the animal care center buildings. The sentinel figures are made of a sandwiched material; two outside layers of granite with a middle layer of stainless steel. The figures are water-jet cut free-standing engravings. Along the inside of the portico are eight granite plaques attached to the portico columns. These plaques are stories, myths and aphorisims about cats and dogs.

The project serves many purposes. First, to identify the building from the street with a sense of the buildingʼs contents and its purpose. Secondly, to portray animal care as an essential human activity. And finally, to place the mythos of these pets in the minds of its patrons, to connect them to the long lineage of our connection with these beings.