Gwinnett's Environmental & Heritage Center

WOW is the word I heard myself exclaiming over and over in September when I had the pleasure of a sneak preview and private tour of the new Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center. My expectations were high but not high enough.

When I first stepped into the center, I read the words of Luna B. Leopold, Ph.D, behind a wall of water: “Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our waters is the principle measure of how we live on the land.” That set the stage for the rest of the adventure.

The GEHC is a premier center that serves as the catalyst to “Soak up the Science”. It promises to solve tomorrow’s environmental challenges, enhance knowledge of technology and science, and explore the interrelationships of past, present and future lifestyles and cultures as they relate to the world around us.

The heart of the center is a 59,000-square-foot stone and natural pine facility set amid a 233-acre natural park. It is a living, breathing model of educational opportunities. No block walls here as it provides an innovative space for environmental science education, historic and cultural exploration, as well as outdoor passive recreation.

The center houses both permanent and changing exhibits including “Discover H₂O,” a wet, wild and sandy interactive place where you can follow water from your house to the wastewater treatment plant and beyond. “Rivers to Reefs” spotlights Georgia’s riparian and marine habitats. It also provides an opportunity to handle live animals such as an alligator, slider turtles, horseshoe crabs and starfish. If that isn’t enough, my absolute favorite highlight of the center is a multi-sensory experience provided in the Blue Planet theater, featuring a film truly like no other. It wisely captivates while it educates!

Speaking of educating…

GEHC also is one of the few locations in the southeast that a student can attend as a kindergartener and continue that educational process through post-graduate studies. With its full wet chemistry/technology labs, the facility serves as a center for undergraduate, graduate and continuing adult education. The staff provides a dynamic learning environment that transforms the concepts of science and technology into interactive, learn-by-doing experiences that will encourage a student’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. Students, teachers and citizens will be immersed into a world of hands-on learning activities, complete with real-world examples to experience.

LEED the Way

Exciting surprises are waiting everywhere, and the building itself is no exception. The Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center has taken the “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in “green” building design and construction in Gwinnett County. As the first building in the county to be permitted for LEED certification, it is a living laboratory of environmentally conscientious construction methods and materials achieving a minimum of a Silver LEED rating. The building was constructed using recycled materials, with minimal impact on the surrounding woods during construction. It also boasts the largest oxygen producing vegetative roof in the southeast - yes, plants on the roof! Guests can apply what they learn to realize energy efficiency in their own homes and backyards.

The Vision

The GEHC was the brainchild of the former county administration under the leadership of Chairman Wayne Hill and Charlotte Nash and it became reality with the current board of commissioners. Indeed, at the October 5 ribbon cutting ceremony, Chairman Charles Bannister praised Hill and Nash for their forward thinking.

Now a partnership project funded and staffed by Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett County Public School System and the University of Georgia, the GEHC was originally conceived as a field-study destination for science and social studies education for Gwinnett K-12 students. Its mission soon evolved into a more multi-use public facility.

“Water is a key resource issue of our time and something that is absolutely essential for sustainable growth and quality of life in Gwinnett County”, said Steve Cannon, GEHC’s executive director. “But water is not an isolated thing. It is connected to everything else in the environment - watersheds, industry, agriculture, residential development, landscaping, pavement and roof run-off, energy use, transportation…you name it! So, we decided that our mission at GEHC would be to provide the community at large with a wonderful recreational and educational space for hands-on, first-person involvement.”

Cannon’s excitement is obvious when he speaks of this being a project that only comes along once in a person’s career. “I am so blessed to have been allowed an opportunity to take it from conceptual idea of the BOC to reality. This project will give back to our community for many generations to come. Who knows, maybe a Gwinnett student like me will grow up and manage this place one day.”

He also is quick to point out the incredible partnership of the board of commissioners, board of education, UGA and the GEHC Foundation. “It’s critical to understand that it is almost unheard of to find a community with this kind of professional working relationship,” Cannon said.

A Unique Meeting

The facility is located near the Mall of Georgia, nestled on 233-wooded acres including 159 acres of wetlands. It is available for corporate rental and includes a catering kitchen, multi-media conference room and lecture hall. Outdoor amenities include eight miles of walking trails, outdoor classrooms, historic mill remnants and a rental pavilion. The next phase of the project includes a playground that promises to be as innovative as the center itself, as well as greenway additions containing a 12-mile trail system. GEHC is a collaborative effort between the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, the Gwinnett County Public Schools and the University of Georgia. Kudos to all of them for creating a vision for a more-enriched Gwinnett!

Your adventure awaits Gwinnett…do not wait for a rainy day to visit The Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center. The sooner you Soak Up the Science, the sooner you will hear yourself exclaiming WOW!!

The Center is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 .pm., and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Outdoor trails and greenway are open daily from dawn to dusk.

For more information, call 770-904-3500 or visit www.gwinnettEHC.com.