Environmental Design
Environmental design principals guide our work from concept through construction management. Our design clients are in the public, private and institutional sectors throughout the southeast. WLA Studio specializes in landscapes in historic contexts as well as "green build" projects.
Foothills Parkway - Design/Build Extension, Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
The Foothills Parkway is a scenic highway, which links northern sections of Tennessee, crossing a series of high ridges with unobstructed views of the Great Smoky Mountains to the south and the Tennessee Valley to the north. At the beginning of the project, this parkway was one of the oldest unfinished highway projects in Tennessee. Under a contract with HDR, our firm assisted in the most recent phase of this project. This design-build effort included the design and construction of the roadway as well as two bridges with estimated construction costs of $20 million. The firm’s role in the project included the development of an overall landscape plan to stabilize the steep terrain using pioneering native plant species found within the project area. This video documents the completed project.
View of Weirs Valley, Foothills Parkway, TN.
Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, Buford, GA
Having assisted Gwinnett County in the development of a Conceptual Master Plan and Building and Site Program for the Gwinnett County Environmental and Heritage Center, WLA Studio also completed construction documents for the landscape element of this project. The Center is situated on a 230-acre, primarily wooded, conservation area. The concept behind this $19 million project is to bring the unique natural and cultural qualities of the area to life for visitors. Envisioned as an environmental “hands-on” learning center and a natural history and living history museum, the center is complemented by extensive site improvements with an array of outdoor spaces. This project has achieved the Gold Level for LEED certification. Sustainable site features include porous paving surfaces for roadways, parking and trails; ecological storm water treatments; a “dark skies” approach to site lighting; an emphasis on recycled and regional materials; and an exclusively native palette of plant materials. The building features a green roof.
Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, Gwinnett County, GA. Photo by Lee Anne White
Jekyll Island Multi-Use Trail and Historic District Improvements, Jekyll Island, GA
Our firm has been assisting the Jekyll Island Authority for over a decade in improvements to the island's facilities including a phased multi-use trail (master plan, construction documentation, and administration services) and hardscape improvements to the Jekyll Island Historic District. Our design solutions included creative solutions to interpreting historic sites, sensitive trail routing within wetlands areas, and innovative design for tails and boardwalks.
Pervious multi-use trail, Jekyll Island, GA.