The Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center is a 65,000-square-foot interpretive learning facility designed to foster an understanding of water’s critical relationship to life, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship. The building integrates interior exhibits and hands-on learning environments with outdoor trails, allowing for a seamless educational experience across both indoor and outdoor spaces. Sustainable design elements include a one-acre sloped vegetative roof, water reuse systems, pervious pavement, and daylight harvesting features, all working together to minimize environmental impact while enhancing energy efficiency. This project was developed through collaboration with local educational and government institutions, positioning the facility as a model of eco-conscious design that encourages interactive learning about natural resources.
Buford, GA
LEED Gold
59,000 sf
Cultural Site, Environmental Sciences, Learning Spaces, Trails/ Greenways, Nature Center, Regenerative Design, Green Infrastructure
“Lord Aeck Sargent provided a remarkable building design that demonstrates a team effort of a complex government building program that not only functionally meets the expectations for the client, but also is truly a remarkable example of a LEED building that supports sustainability as a tool of education.”
— Steve Cannon, Former Executive Director of the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Exceptional Merit for Sustainable Building & Design
Atlanta Regional Commission
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Fox McCarthy WaterWise Award
Georgia WaterWise Council