Project Strategy

Founded in 1972, Helen Woodward Animal Center is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit where “people help animals and animals help people.” Through 14 individual programs, the Center strengthens the community by providing educational and therapeutic programs for people, as well as humane care and adoption for homeless animals.
At the heart of the mission, is the Humane Education Department, which serves people of all ages by providing a variety of unique programs which support the bond between humans and animals. These programs help improve understanding, compassion and responsibility toward all living things, which is a critical step towards creating a more humane world. One initiative, the Critter Camps runs year-round, providing fun presentations with live animal ambassadors, hands-on interactions, crafts, games and activities all centered around leaving a positive impact on the world.

To expand its mission, the Helen Woodward Animal center built a state-of-the-art Humane Education Campus to bring people of all ages together to change their perspective on the humane relationship with animals by providing fun and interactive learning experiences, to cultivate love and respect. The Architect, General Contractor and Flooring Contractor together installed more than 1,267 square yards of Altro sheet flooring throughout the facility.
Altro Orchestra, Altro Operetta, Altro Symphonia and Altro Wood Comfort were specified to accommodate the Center’s imaginative vision. Each classroom was designed around a unique animal theme, requiring intricate, custom flooring patterns to help bring these ecosystems to life.
“One standout example is a river design that flows continuously from the Woodlands Room into the adjoining Jungle Room,” said Alison N. Morita, Principal at Delawie. “These classrooms are not like your typical classrooms. Each one was created to make learning both fun and memorable, with immersive designs that reflect the animals and ecosystems visitors interact with. Durable, easy to clean and available in a vibrant palette of colors, Altro’s materials offered the design flexibility needed to bring each playful concept to reality.”
Altro’s smooth flooring collection delivers more than creative freedom. With an expansive color range and coordinated finishes, the products also provide acoustic comfort, hygienic performance and ease of maintenance, ideal for a high-traffic educational environment. From themed classrooms to administrative spaces, Altro’s solutions balanced aesthetic needs with practical performance. In addition Tarkett wall base in several profiles and Daltile color wheel wall tiles provided a neutral backsplash to allow the colors of the room to shine.
Now complete, the Humane Education Campus empowers the Helen Woodward Animal Center to extend its mission further than ever, impacting lives locally and globally. By teaching children, teens, and adults about empathy and animal care, the Center is laying the groundwork for more compassionate, respectful human-animal relationships with one lesson at a time.