Roswell, Georgia
Client: Chattahoochee Nature Center
Size: 5 acres
Completion Date: 2022
Awards: 2024 Merit Award, Georgia ASLA
Collaborators: ASTRA Group, Clark Irrigation Design & Consulting, One Atlas, Michael Baker International, Shear Structural, Stability Engineering, Terracon Consultants, Aimee Copeland Foundation
Providing safe connections and inclusive access in a sensitive riverfront ecosystem.
Guided by the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s strategic master plan, HGOR designed a sensitive renovation focused on expanding access to one of the site’s most ecologically significant areas. The project improves safety and connectivity from the campus core to the river while preserving the integrity of the surrounding wetlands and forest systems. Through a carefully choreographed network of elevated boardwalks, a pedestrian bridge, and a welcoming entry plaza, the design creates an inclusive and immersive experience that allows visitors to engage with the river and its diverse ecosystems while minimizing disturbance to the natural environment.
Working Within a Living System
The project area encompasses the most environmentally sensitive portion of CNC’s 127-acre campus, requiring a design approach that prioritized preservation over intervention. HGOR aligned the site work with existing topography and vegetation, developing a layout that minimized grading and protected mature trees and wetlands. Early design studies tested multiple boardwalk configurations to reduce impacts on existing shrubs and root systems while maintaining clear, intuitive circulation through the landscape. To capitalize on viewsheds, a small viewing pavilion was positioned at a prominent river overlook, offering shelter and respite without dominating the natural landscape.
Experiential Learning
Interpretive signage is strategically located at key nodes along the boardwalk, transforming the journey into an educational experience. Enlarged gathering areas create space for class trips, teaching, informal programming, and group exploration. These moments allow visitors to pause, observe, and learn about the site’s sensitive ecological systems while remaining immersed in the landscape.
Connectivity & Universal Access
A key objective of the project was to improve pedestrian connectivity from the campus core to the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The design introduces an entry plaza, a pedestrian bridge, and approximately a half mile of elevated boardwalks, providing a fully ADA-accessible route through forest canopy, understory, wetlands, floodplain, and riverbank environments. An ADA-accessible canoe launch further extends universal access to the river, allowing visitors of all abilities to directly engage with the water.
Structures Designed to Disappear
Architectural elements were intentionally understated to maintain focus on the natural surroundings. Boardwalk and bridge structures were designed to be durable and maintenance-free, with materials specifically selected for longevity and minimal visual impact. Integrated lighting within the boardwalk structure allows for safe evening use while preserving the site’s natural character.
Ecological Stewardship & Stormwater Management
Native plantings were woven throughout the wetlands to enhance habitat and reinforce the site’s existing ecological identity. Stormwater mitigation strategies—including permeable pavers within the parking areas and a newly installed rain garden—were incorporated not only for performance, but also as educational demonstrations. These features allow visitors to observe green infrastructure in action, reinforcing CNC’s mission of environmental stewardship and public education.
