Historic Lawrenceville Buildings To Get $1 Million Upgrade

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Site improvements are on the way for a pair of historic buildings in Lawrenceville.

The Lawrenceville Female Seminary and historic Isaac Adair House, both at 455 South Perry St. just a few blocks from the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, were approved for up to $1.07 million in refurbishments by the Gwinnett County Commission on Tuesday.

The buildings will get upgrades to become accessible under the Americans With Disabilities Act, a restroom building, storage for programming supplies, landscaping, bus parking and other site improvements.

Funding for the project comes from Gwinnett's special-purpose local option sales tax and went to low bidder Tri Scapes Inc.

"As we approach Gwinnett County’s bicentennial in 2018, these improvements will allow more people to enjoy these historic buildings and to learn about how our community’s rich history helped shape today’s Gwinnett," board Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said in a news release.

The original seminary building was built as a girl's school in 1838, but replaced by the existing structure after a fire in the 1850s.

Built in the 1820s, the Isaac Adair House is one of the oldest houses in Gwinnett County.

The county moved it to the one-acre seminary site from Chandler Road in 2008 during construction of the Sugarloaf Parkway extension.

Its original location was near the present-day intersection of Pike Street and Hurricane Shoals Road.

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center staff organizes educational programs at the two buildings.

(Photo via Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center)