Animal Arts was first established in 1979 by Lawrence Gates and Mark Hafen as Gates Hafen Architects. In 1986, our very first veterinary client, Animalhouse Veterinary Clinic, won a Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Award. This award helped springboard the firm into specializing strictly in the design of animal care facilities all across the United States.

Today, Animal Arts specializes exclusively in the design of animal care facilities. We have a proven track record of success with over 800 projects in 40 states, Canada and overseas. Our expertise in animal care facility architecture spans the veterinary and animal sheltering worlds, assistance dog care and training campuses, teaching hospitals, and animal boarding and daycare. We design small general practice veterinary hospitals, expansive specialty emergency practices, animal shelters for non-profits and government municipalities, and equine and large animal hospitals.