GROW Wildlife, Inc., a non-profit corporation that is raising $3.5 million to build Georgia’s first dedicated wildlife veterinary teaching hospital, announced that the facility will also be designed as an environmental attraction that has received the backing of the City of Chattahoochee Hills in south Fulton County.
The GROW Wildlife Hospital of Georgia Project has hired Stevens and Wilkinson Architecture, Engineering, Interior and Design Management Associates to design the 11,000 square foot, four-wing structure to meet platinum level LEED certification. It will be used to educate visitors on environmentally sustainable construction and demonstrate how clean energy use and renewable resources can benefit all species of life in the ecosystem, not just humans.
“As Georgia’s premier wildlife veterinary hospital, research and education facility, we anticipate that it will attract more than 30,000 visitors annually,” said GROW Executive Director Brenda Hudlow. “We expect this facility to become a destination for schools, educators, veterinarians, vet students, wildlife rehabilitators, environmental group and families of Chattahoochee Hills, Metro Atlanta and Georgia.”
“The city wholeheartedly supports GROW Wildlife’s Environmental Center,” said Chattahoochee Hills Mayor Don Hayes. “The concept of conservation through education and service is in line with our vision of providing quality of life and sustainability for the future. The city is proud to be a partner with GROW Wildlife and their efforts to bring a unique and innovative project to our city.”
GROW Wildlife’s hospital will provide lifesaving and specialized, professional medical care to sick and injured wildlife displaced by urban sprawl. The research arm of this veterinary teaching hospital will help identify wildlife diseases that could possibly affect human health.
The facility will allow University of Georgia veterinary students, natural science students and state licensed wildlife rehabilitators to benefit academically from a hands-on educational experience. In addition, GROW Wildlife’s environmental education programs will help teach children and adults to be good stewards of their environment and appreciate and preserve Georgia’s wildlife.
To make this unique environmental education center become a reality in Georgia, GROW Wildlife is accepting donations by mail and online at www.growwildlife.org.
GROW Wildlife, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation that seeks to encourage wildlife conservation by promoting and providing professional veterinary care, education and humane treatment of wildlife injured or disadvantaged by human activity through specialized veterinary hospitals. The GROW Wildlife Hospital of Georgia is a project to build a dedicated wildlife veterinary teaching hospital staffed by residents and interns from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. The proposed wildlife hospital will be constructed on land donated by Minerva Properties adjacent to Cochran Mill Nature Center in Chattahoochee Hills, GA. Southern Regional Health System will donate expired medical equipment and supplies.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.
One comment