Gwinnett County recently unveiled its newly constructed Sensory Treehouse on the grounds of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford. Funded by the 2017 SPLOST program, this 20-foot tall treehouse offers a unique experience for people with mobility issues to enjoy the tree canopy.
Constructed of weathering Corten steel, the design resembles the American chestnut tree, eradicated at the turn of the 20th century.
The structure includes a 340-foot-long elevated steel walkway with three expanded nodes, surrounded by a viewing and activity platform and a high-hanging hammock. Inside the treehouse, visitors can enjoy a circular audio-visual experience with a domed ceiling used for various teaching and entertainment experiences. The planned area expands to the boardwalk, weaving through trees with three additional decks for learning about habitats and future exhibitions.
The entire structure is ADA-accessible, allowing those in wheelchairs to reach an area in the forest that wouldn’t be possible with conventional footpaths. In addition to its existing activities, collaborations with the Gwinnett County Public School System will offer exhibits displayed along the forest trail, providing multisensory environmental experiences for all ages, with a focus on habitat, pollinators, animal adaptations, and more.
