The Experiential Design Index

Puppy Center Learning Lab — Guide Dogs for the Blind

The Puppy Center Learning Lab, an educational visitor space at Guide Dogs for the Blind's national headquarters in San Rafael, California, opened in 2020 as part of the organization's $23 million Puppy Center; Dreyfuss + Blackford designed the building, with exhibit design by West Office Exhibition Design and fabrication by Cinnabar.

VenueGuide Dogs for the Blind
Project typeNew Building
StatusCompleted
Year completed2020
Technologiesaccessible AV captioning, braille signage

Credits

FirmRoleNote
dreyfuss-blackford Architecture
West Office Exhibit Design
Cinnabar Fabrication

Description

A visitor-facing education space offering a window into how Guide Dogs for the Blind breeds, socializes, raises, and trains guide dogs, including viewing windows into the puppy socialization area and a "real life" home-like environment room. Accessibility features include high-contrast graphics with audio descriptions, braille signage, and AV captioning, and touch models depict puppies at various developmental stages.

Sources