PLAYTIME AT SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY BECOMES FUN AGAIN

ACRYLITE® Pastel Ice Tennis Ball Fixtures Bring Animal Habitat to Life

Parsippany, NJ – June 19, 2007 –The San Diego Humane Society recently partnered with the American Society of Designers (ASID) to help increase adoption rates through the power of design. After years of providing shelter for abandoned pets, the Humane Society’s animal habitats were in need of a makeover to help create a more welcoming atmosphere for visitors looking to adopt. As part of a group of ASID members who volunteered to re-design the space, Diane Quintin of Studio Q Interiors (San Diego, CA) conceptualized a unique habitat room for active dogs that incorporated a theme based on a game of fetch the ball. As a central element of the design, Quintin installed a vibrant tennis ball wall fixture created with green Pastel Ice ACRYLITE® GP P-95 acrylic sheet, an innovative acrylic product from CYRO Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Degussa. 

Giving Back

For over a century, the San Diego Humane Society has worked to inspire and engage the community to help end animal suffering. In 2002, the organization opened its current facility, which is divided into 39 separate habitat rooms with distinct motifs. As a result of the wear and tear associated with sheltering many abandoned pets, however, these rooms recently began to look aged.

 “After three years, much of our original furniture had been chewed and scratched,” explains Robyn Kraft, Director of Human Resources for the San Diego Humane Society. “Although we had replaced a variety of items, many of the rooms had lost their individual flare and were in need of a refresh.”

Seeking to create an atmosphere truly reflective of the nurturing care of the Humane Society mission, Kraft worked with the ASID in recruiting 40 local designers to volunteer time and effort to remodel the habitats. This initiative aimed to create comfortable environments for pets and visitors to bond, increasing chances for permanent adoption.

Is Anyone up for Tennis?

Assigned the task of redesigning a habitat room for large, active dogs, Quintin and Studio Q Interiors created a design concept called Play Time with My Best Buddy, which was based on a game of fetch. Central to this theme was a vibrant wall fixture consisting of three pieces of green Pastel Ice ACRYLITE GP P-95 acrylic sheet cut into circles and painted with white stripes to resemble tennis balls. Measuring 25 ¾”, 17 ¾”, and 5 ¾” in diameter, the circles are sorted into descending sizes and mounted in an arch pattern along the length of a wall to create an illusion of motion. Each tennis ball is attached to the wall from a distance using stainless steel grommets for a 3D appearance.

Lightweight with a matte finish, ACRYLITE GP P-95 sheet combines the high-end look of frosted glass with the brightness of neon-like color. These attributes deliver the energizing feel and performance functionality that Quintin required for the habitat room.

 “The smooth texture, lively feel and vibrant color of green Pastel Ice ACRYLITE GP P-95 sheet provided the visual effect we needed while delivering the durability to withstand a large dog habitat,” comments Quintin.

To create the sense of motion Quintin envisioned, each tennis ball fixture was backlit with LED lighting. Pastel Ice ACRYLITE GP P-95 sheet offers a non-glare finish that was ideal for this task. When backlit, this cell cast sheet diffuses the light into a magical glowing effect and shows a luminous, bright edge.  The product is also easy to handle and fabricate, which was a key benefit for the installation process.

“We only had four days to install the entire design into the habitat room, and it was essential to use materials that would be easy for community volunteers to handle. Pastel Ice ACRYLITE GP P-95 sheet allowed volunteers to cut, paint and mount the tennis balls with minimal effort,” remarks Quintin.

Reaping the Rewards

Garnering significant attention from local and national media, the newly remodeled San Diego Humane Society recently held an awards ceremony to recognize the most innovative habitat designs. Studio Q’s Play Time with My Best Buddy was given the award for “Most Indestructible” room. 

As a result of the success of the San Diego project, Humane Societies around North America are planning to implement similar programs. “There has been a great response as a result of the redesign,” notes Kraft. “The influx of new visitors ensures that our pets are given a new ‘leash’ on life.”

About CYRO

CYRO Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Degussa.  Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, CYRO is North America’s largest acrylic sheet manufacturer and a leading producer of acrylic polymer products and MMA. As the innovative suppliers of specialty acrylic solutions to existing and emerging markets, CYRO and Degussa offer broad technological and global resources to respond to market demands.  CYRO offers on-line technical support 24/7, through the TechKnowlogy Center at www.cyro.com.    For more information, contact: CYRO Industries, 379 Interpace Parkway, Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA; Tel: 800-631-5384; Fax: 973-541-8445; or visit www.cyro.com.

Degussa: Creating Essentials™ Degussa Corporation is part of Degussa GmbH – a wholly owned subsidiary of the RAG Group. Degussa GmbH is the global market leader in specialty chemicals. Its business is creating essentials: innovative products and system solutions that make indispensable contributions to its customers’ success. In fiscal 2006 around 36,000 employees worldwide generated sales of 10.9 billion euros and operating profits (EBIT) of more than 870 million euros.   About Studio Q Interiors Studio Q Interiors is a full service interior design firm with over 20 years of design experience. Their interior design services include kitchen, bathroom, family areas, bedroom, outdoor, and corporate design. Studio Q Interiors is an accredited firm with the American Society of Interior Designers and the National Kitchen and Bath Association.