About Us
Connolly Architects & Consultants is a Texas-based firm with a national reputation for excellence in animal welfare design as well as expertise in diverse commercial & residential building types. Our reputation is built on a keen understanding of animal control, animal welfare, veterinary and boarding issues, application of progressive ideas about shelter design, and a commitment to improving conditions for animal welfare staff and the animals in their care.
Connolly’s national practice includes more than 100 projects in 30 states.
Our Team
Larry Connolly, FAIA - Principal
Larry Connolly is a nationally-recognized authority on shelter design who regularly presents workshops at conferences for the American Humane Association (AHA), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the National Animal Control Association (NACA), the Texas Federation of Humane Societies (TFHS) as well as animal control associations in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. He served as the architect member of the HSUS Evaluation Team on two shelters and completed one shelter design consultation for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
In 2016 Larry was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in recognition of his work in advancing the design and construction of animal shelters. His work has appeared in Animal Watch, Animal Sheltering, NACA News, The Line, Architecture, Redwood News, Southern Living and Texas Architect. In 2009, the Texas Society of Architects honored Larry with the John G. Flowers Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Architecture in the Media. He holds architectural licenses in Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, NCARB and is Fear FreeTM certified.
Larry has dedicated more than 31 years to designing animal shelters and habitats.
Mike Tibbets, RA - Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Mike Tibbetts has previously worked with several firms in Austin, Port Arthur and Lufkin on both residential and commercial projects. At Connolly, he is responsible for design review to ensure project buildability, best construction value and code compliance as well as contract administration and construction observation.
Hunter Powell - Project Manager/Marketing Director
Hunter Powell joined Connolly as a Production Assistant in 2014. His responsibilities include the production of architectural contract documents as well as preparation of shelter evaluations, feasibility studies, work flow diagrams and master plans. Skilled in graphics and an Adobe InDesign expert, he coordinates the office computer network, the firm’s marketing and the firm’s web site. He is Fear FreeTM certified and has a rescue German Shepherd mix and a Lab mix.
Jeff Smith, P.E. - Livestock & Equestrian Design
Jeff Smith is by education and practice a structural engineer. He provides valuable insight to the structural buildability of proposed shelter concepts. In an additional capacity, as a third generation rancher, he provides first hand user guidelines livestock and horse habitat and support spaces. He has three dogs, four quarter horses, cattle, barn cats and owls.
Denae Wagner, DVM, MPVM, Assistant Director and Chief Portalizer, UC Davis - Design Review
Denae’s work for the Koret Shelter Medicine Program has helped shelters from Florida to Vancouver improve their facilities.
Dr. Wagner received the CFHS/FSCAA Innovation Award in 2016 for her work improving shelter design, animal health, infectious disease prevention and control, and shelter data management.
